Elderly disabled Yogyakarta resident in top welfare bracket, hasn't received social aid for over a year

Suwarno, an elderly resident of Yogyakarta, finds himself in a perplexing situation: he has not received government social assistance for more than a year. The primary reason cited is his classification within "desil 10," a category representing the highest level of welfare in the National Socio-Economic Single Data (DTSEN).

This classification is a stark contrast to Suwarno's reality. He lives alone in a modest house in a densely populated area near the Code River. His wife passed away in 2010, and his children have moved out of the city. The 70-year-old suffers from a spinal disorder, requiring him to use a walking cane and ankle braces. His home, a legacy from his grandfather, has tiled floors and an aging roof. The only visible electronics are a television and a broken refrigerator. He does not own a vehicle; a motorcycle parked outside belongs to his brother.

Suwarno, a retired librarian from a private university in Sleman, relies on a monthly pension of Rp900,000. He also used to receive Rp600,000 in social aid every three months through the Family Hope Program (PKH), but this aid abruptly stopped in April 2025. He last received the funds for the January-March 2025 period, with subsequent payments being cut.

Attempts to understand the reason for the aid suspension have been met with confusion. When he inquired at the local sub-district office, he learned about his desil 10 classification. Officials at the sub-district, district, and even his former PKH facilitator could not provide a clear explanation for his high desil ranking. "Even I, who was affected, don't know. What is the basis for desil, and where does it start?" Suwarno questioned.

With his limited income, Suwarno struggles to cover basic needs like food, water, and electricity. He believes the government's data classification is inaccurate and subjective. He urges the government to conduct on-site factual verifications to ensure that those genuinely in need can access social assistance.

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I don't know. What is the basis for desil, and where does it start?