Social Affairs Minister: Updating DTSEN Key to Improving Social Aid Accuracy
The Ministry of Social Affairs (Kemensos) is continuously improving its data system for social aid recipients to ensure more accurate distribution. This follows findings from the 2025 National Economic Council (DEN) which revealed inaccuracies in beneficiary selection for various social assistance programs.
Social Affairs Minister Saifullah Yusuf, also known as Gus Ipul, stated that the DEN evaluation is a key basis for the government to strengthen data systems through the National Socioeconomic Single Data (DTSEN). He said the DTSEN is expected to enhance data accuracy so aid reaches those genuinely eligible.
‘What moved me most was President Prabowo’s call for us, especially me, to begin this work by presenting honest data. We must acknowledge the data as it is, be truthful and transparent, then improve it,’ Saifullah said during the 2026 National Elderly Day commemoration in Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara, on Sunday (31 May).
He explained that one DEN finding pertains to the Family Hope Program (PKH). According to the 2025 evaluation, approximately 45% of PKH beneficiaries are suspected to no longer meet eligibility criteria.
‘Around 45% of PKH recipients are believed to no longer qualify as beneficiaries,’ he added.
Saifullah stressed that the issue was not due to the performance of PKH field coordinators. He said the main challenge lies in maintaining data validity as socioeconomic conditions change over time.
To address this, President Prabowo Subianto has tasked the Central Statistics Agency (BPS) as the main manager of DTSEN. In practice, BPS will collaborate with the Ministry of Social Affairs and local governments to regularly update the data.
The Social Affairs Minister is optimistic that cross-sector collaboration in DTSEN updates—from neighbourhood levels, village consultations, local governments to ministries and agencies—will produce a more accurate database and improve targeting of social aid programs.
These efforts also apply to healthcare assistance for the elderly in East Nusa Tenggara (NTT). According to BPS data, 91.11% of 379,592 poor elderly in NTT, classified in DTSEN deciles 1-4, are registered as BPJS Health participants under the National Health Insurance Premium Assistance (PBI JKN) scheme.
The government hopes that DTSEN data improvements will strengthen the effectiveness of social protection programs and ensure state aid reaches those in need.