Hendartyo Hanggi, Jakarta – Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati confirmed that the social cash assistance or BST program was extended by two months. The disbursement of cash aid was aimed at providing relief to people affected by the implementation of the Emergency PPKM.

"The State Budget (APBN) helps to protect [people] as to anticipate [impacts from] the Emergency PPKM," Sri said in a press conference held virtually on Friday, July 2, 2021.

The social assistance program is given to 10 million poor families and people who are not recipients of the Family Hope Program (PKH) and basic food cards. The criteria include people who have a family number (NIK), a family card (KK), and an active phone number.

The minister mentioned that the government had distributed the cash aid to 9.6 million people with a total budget of Rp11.94 trillion from January to April. Each received Rp300,000 per month.

"For the program extension, we hope it will be paid in July and August, targeting 10 million beneficiaries in 34 provinces," she added.

Sri said the budget for the program extension amounted to Rp6.1 trillion. The government would use data of beneficiaries in January-April. "So the total budget allocation for the BST program reached Rp18.04 trillion," Sri Mulyani disclosed.

Source: https://en.tempo.co/read/1478900/sri-mulyani-cash-aid-program-extended-by-2-months-for-10mn-familie