Bansos is short for bantuan sosial (social assistance): cash, goods or services from the government for poor and vulnerable families so they can meet basic needs. Recipients are chosen using the official DTSEN database.
What bansos means
Bansos stands for bantuan sosial, social assistance. The government provides it to protect families from poverty — for example to help with food, children’s schooling or medical costs.
Bansos is different from hibah (grants). Grants usually go to institutions or organisations; bansos goes to individuals, families or community groups in need.
Types of bansos
| Type | Example programs | Form |
|---|---|---|
| Cash aid | PKH, Village BLT, ATENSI YAPI | Money to an account or cash |
| Food aid | BPNT / Sembako, rice aid | Food balance or rice |
| Education aid | PIP, KIP Kuliah, Sekolah Rakyat | Education money or free school |
| Health aid | PBI JK | BPJS Health premium paid by the government |
| Social rehabilitation | ATENSI | Services and aids for elderly and disabled people |
See the full list with requirements in Bansos 2026.
Common terms
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| KPM | Keluarga Penerima Manfaat — a family confirmed as an aid recipient. |
| KKS | Kartu Keluarga Sejahtera — a debit card from the paying bank used to receive and withdraw aid. See KKS pay-outs. |
| PBI JK | Penerima Bantuan Iuran Jaminan Kesehatan — BPJS Health members whose premiums the government pays. |
| DTSEN | The National Single Socio-Economic Database used to choose recipients; it replaced DTKS. |
| Decile (desil) | A family welfare ranking from 1 (most in need) to 10. See Check your decile. |
| PKH facilitator | A social worker who supports PKH families in their area. |
| Himbara | The group of state-owned banks that pay out aid, such as BRI, BNI and Mandiri. |
| Usul and Sanggah | Menus in the Cek Bansos app to propose recipients or report ineligible ones. |
| Rastra | Beras Sejahtera — the old name of the rice aid program before non-cash food aid replaced it. |
Purpose and benefits
- Help poor and vulnerable families meet basic needs such as food and health.
- Keep children in school and give pregnant women and toddlers access to health services.
- Protect families during economic shocks, such as job loss.
Who can receive bansos?
In general, recipients are Indonesian citizens from poor or vulnerable families listed in DTSEN — usually deciles 1 to 4 — who are not civil servants, soldiers or police. Each program has extra conditions. See How to register.
Frequently asked questions
What does bansos stand for?
Bansos stands for bantuan sosial, social assistance.
What does PBI mean?
PBI means Penerima Bantuan Iuran — BPJS Health members whose premiums the government pays (PBI JK).
What is a KKS card?
The KKS (Kartu Keluarga Sejahtera) is a card from the paying bank used to receive and withdraw aid such as PKH and BPNT.
What is the difference between bansos and hibah?
Bansos goes to individuals or families in need; hibah (grants) usually go to institutions or organisations.