Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati noted that realization of the regular social protection (perlinsos) budget had reached Rp333.8 trillion as of October 31, 2022.

“Perlinsos is still a safety net for our economy and the community. The realization might not change much from the previous month,” the minister noted at the KiTA State Budget Press Conference here on Thursday.

Realization of the regular social protection budget includes several social assistance programs, such as the Family Hope Program assistance to 10 million beneficiary families, the Staple Goods Card assistance to 18.7 million beneficiary families, and Cooking Oil Cash Assistance to 23.9 million beneficiaries.

Moreover, the realization includes the Street Vendors and Stalls (PKL WN) Cash Assistance to 2.1 million beneficiaries, the People’s Business Credit (KUR) interest subsidy to 6.3 million debtors, and Village Cash Assistance to 7.5 million beneficiary families.

Apart from providing social assistance with the regular social protection budget, the government has, so far, provided an additional Rp15.6 trillion for social assistance.

The additional assistance includes Fuel Cash Assistance (BLT BBM) that has reached Rp6.21 trillion from a ceiling of Rp12.4 trillion.

The BLT BBM program is targeting 20.65 million beneficiary families, with each beneficiary family being provided monthly assistance of Rp150 thousand for a period of four months, with the disbursement conducted in two phases, with Rp300 thousand in each phase.

“Half of it will be disbursed in December. Thus, later, the realization will reach Rp12.4 trillion. I hope it would be able to help the community at the end of the year, especially for the lower class,” the minister stated.

Apart from BLT BBM, the government is providing Wage Subsidy Assistance (BSU), for which the realization has reached Rp7.68 trillion from a ceiling of Rp8.8 trillion. The assistance program is targeting 16 million workers whose wages are a maximum of Rp3.5 million per month.

Lastly, there is the regional budget (APBD) support, in which the realization has reached Rp1.71 trillion from a ceiling of Rp4.6 trillion, used to provide basic food assistance, employment and business tools, housing, and other social assistance.

Source: Antara News