Social Affairs Minister Ready to Impose Strict Sanctions on Rogue Caseworkers Withholding KKS from Social Aid Recipients

Bekasi Regency — The Minister of Social Affairs, Saifullah Yusuf, has highlighted rogue caseworkers who withhold the Prosperous Family Card (KKS) belonging to recipients of social assistance (bansos), and has stated readiness to impose strict sanctions for violations. “It is no longer the time for assistants to hold the cards they accompany. The role of assistants is to educate and enlighten, not to deceive the families of beneficiaries,” he said at a press conference following the dissemination of the National Socio-Economic Integrated Data (DTSEN) in Bekasi Regency, West Java, on Wednesday. There are two types of social assistance KKS, namely for the Program Keluarga Harapan (KPM) and Non-Cash Food Assistance (BPNT). According to Saifullah, withholding the cards constitutes a deviation that cannot be tolerated, as this has been used as a modus operandi by rogue caseworkers to skim part of the aid rather than helping to disburse the funds. The practice is commonly found targeting the elderly or residents in remote villages. The Ministry of Social Affairs in 2025 issued stern warnings to as many as 500 PKH programme caseworkers, with 49 of them dismissed for such violations. Citizens are urged not to fear reporting irregularities in the distribution of bansos. Reports can be submitted through the village head up to using the Cek Bansos app, which contains a suggestion and appeal feature, call centre 021-171, or the WhatsApp service 088-771-71-171. Saifullah stated that the openness of the complaint channels is part of the follow-up to Presidential Instruction No. 4/2025 on the National Single Socio-Economic Data (DTSEN) and Presidential Instruction No. 8/2025 on Handling and Eradication of Poverty.