How Non-Cash Assistance Accelerates Financial Inclusion (A Study of PKH Program Beneficiaries in Aceh)

Abstract

The government made a breakthrough by distributing social assistance through a non-cash mechanism to improve aid effectiveness and encourage financial inclusion. According to a recent study, some beneficiaries find it difficult to distribute aid through the system. They do not want to use the system for other financial services; they only use non-cash facilities to disperse aid. It may be difficult to achieve financial inclusion because of this fact. The purpose of this study is to find out what influences recipients' opinions of using the cashless system. We conducted a study of 150 non-cash recipients throughout Aceh's districts and cities. Although it turns out that it is only confined to the distribution of social assistance, the community is supposed to become accustomed to saving through the distribution of  non-cash social assistance. It turns out that while the distribution of non-cash social assistance is intended to familiarize the community with saving, it is only restricted to that process and the recipients do not immediately implement the saving mechanism. Financial inclusion in non-social assistance for the poor is a pseudo-financial inclusiveness and has no impact on poverty reduction.