Social Affairs Minister Warns PKH Field Workers Against Accepting Referrals to Ensure Accurate PBI JK Data
Social Affairs Minister Saifullah Yusuf (Gus Ipul) has issued a warning to Programme Keluarga Harapan (PKH) field workers involved in the ground-checking process for Health Insurance Contribution Assistance (PBI JK) recipients. He stressed that all officers must work professionally and refrain from accepting ‘referrals’ from any party.
“I ask that you be truly accountable, not subjective, and not accept referrals from anyone so that our data is genuinely accurate,” said Gus Ipul when met at the Central Statistics Agency (BPS) office in Central Jakarta on Thursday (19/2/2026).
“Because PKH field workers and officers on the ground are the eyes and ears of the state, and they are the frontline representatives of the state,” he added.
The government is currently undertaking ground checks on PBI JK participants who had been deactivated. The data updating process is being carried out to ensure that assistance reaches the correct beneficiaries.
Gus Ipul assured that despite the re-verification process, the PBI quota or allocation would not be reduced. The budget remains available for 96.8 million beneficiaries.
“The PBI allocation is not being reduced; it remains for 96.8 million beneficiaries. The allocation stays the same but will be redirected to those who meet the criteria according to established standards,” he explained.
Gus Ipul cited the case of a resident named Ajat, who was previously a PBI participant but was deactivated because he fell into the sixth decile. Through this system, residents like Ajat can be swiftly reactivated if field data proves they are indeed eligible.
To update the Integrated Social Welfare Data (DTSEN), the government has provided two channels for data renewal. The first is the formal channel, through data collection from the RT/RW (neighbourhood) level, Village Consultations, Social Affairs Offices, and processing by BPS using the SIK-NG (Social Welfare Information System Next Generation) application.
The second is through public participation. Residents can report or contest data through the ‘Cek Bansos’ application, the DTSEN feature, the Command Centre on 021-171, or the WhatsApp Centre on 08877171171.
Gus Ipul emphasised that all layers of society can participate in the data updating process. Residents need only attach photographs of assets or electricity token receipts belonging to beneficiary families (KPM) for follow-up action.
“This is our way of improving the data we hold. We want the identities being proposed or contested to be accompanied by information so that we can take follow-up action,” he concluded.