The Social Welfare Department — Jabatan Kebajikan Masyarakat (JKM) — is a federal agency under the Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development (KPWKM). Established in 1946 in response to the social problems caused by the Second World War, its role has since expanded to protection, rehabilitation, prevention, development and community integration. It administers Malaysia's main welfare cash-aid schemes and runs the national OKU (disability) registration that issues the OKU Card.
- JKM was established in 1946, initially in response to WWII social problems, and now sits under the Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development (KPWKM), which also oversees the Social Institute of Malaysia (ISM) and the National Welfare Foundation (YKNM).
- Aid is means-tested; applicants should first be registered in the National Poverty Database System (eKasih), and apply either manually with the JKM18 Form at a district office or online via the eBantuan JKM portal.
- Its assistance schemes include Rahmah Basic Contribution (SARA), Rahmah Cash Contribution (STR), Federal General Assistance (Bantuan Am), Children's Financial Aid (BKK), Elderly Assistance (BWE) and Foster Child Assistance (BAP).
- Under the Persons with Disabilities Act 2008 (Act 685), Malaysia recognises seven disability categories: physical, learning, hearing, visual, speech, mental and multiple disabilities.
- OKU registration uses the BPPOKU form (Amendment 2/2019) with a medical verification report and MyKad copy, submitted at a JKM counter or online via the MyDaftar OKU portal; a successful applicant receives an OKU Card indicating their category.
- JKM's headquarters is at Aras 6, No. 55, Persiaran Perdana, Presint 4, 62100 Putrajaya; public enquiries go to pro_jkm@jkm.gov.my.
Who this applies to: Anyone wanting to understand what JKM is and does, low-income families and older persons seeking cash aid, persons with disabilities registering for an OKU Card, or researchers cross-referencing Malaysia's social-protection framework.
On this page
The Social Welfare Department — Jabatan Kebajikan Masyarakat, known everywhere by its acronym JKM — is the federal agency that catches Malaysians when they fall. It was established in 1946, initially in response to the social problems caused by the Second World War, and its role later expanded to protection, rehabilitation, prevention, development and community integration. Search results for JKM are dominated by year-stamped “how to claim aid” blogs and bare service pages; this page instead explains JKM as an institution and how its services connect across the whole life cycle — from children to persons with disabilities to older persons.
What is JKM and where does it sit?
JKM is a department under the Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development (KPWKM), the same ministry that oversees agencies such as the Social Institute of Malaysia (ISM) and the National Welfare Foundation (YKNM). Its headquarters is at Aras 6, No. 55, Persiaran Perdana, Presint 4, 62100 Putrajaya, and public enquiries are directed to pro_jkm@jkm.gov.my.
What financial assistance does JKM provide?
JKM administers a set of assistance schemes for low-income households, children, older persons and foster families:
| Scheme (English name) | Short form |
|---|---|
| Rahmah Basic Contribution | SARA |
| Rahmah Cash Contribution | STR |
| Federal General Assistance | Bantuan Am |
| Children’s Financial Aid | BKK |
| Elderly Assistance | BWE |
| Foster Child Assistance | BAP |
Every application is means-tested to confirm eligibility, and applicants should first be registered in the National Poverty Database System (eKasih), which JKM references as part of its eligibility framework. You can apply in two ways: a manual application using the JKM18 Form at a District, Divisional or Branch Social Welfare Office, or an online application through the eBantuan JKM portal. Applicants provide photocopies of their identity card, the identity cards and birth certificates of co-residing household members, and salary statements where applicable.
How does OKU (disability) registration work?
Under the Persons with Disabilities Act 2008 (Act 685), OKUs are people with long-term physical, mental, intellectual or sensory impairments that may prevent full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others. Malaysia recognises seven categories of disability: physical, learning, hearing, visual, speech, mental, and multiple disabilities.
To register, applicants — who must be Malaysian citizens certified by a government medical expert — submit the registration form BPPOKU (Amendment 2/2019) together with a medical verification report and a MyKad copy (or a birth certificate for applicants under 12). This can be done manually at a JKM counter or online via the MyDaftar OKU portal. A successful applicant receives an OKU Card indicating their disability category, which is used to access facilities and privileges specific to persons with disabilities.
What’s next
Start by confirming you are registered in eKasih, then choose your route — the JKM18 Form at a district office or the eBantuan JKM portal — and gather the identity, household and income documents in advance. If you are supporting a person with a disability, begin with OKU registration and the OKU Card, which is the gateway to disability-specific services. For current rates, thresholds and forms, always check the official JKM portal at jkm.gov.my before applying.
Which ministry is JKM under?
JKM is a department under the Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development (KPWKM), which also oversees agencies such as the Social Institute of Malaysia (ISM) and the National Welfare Foundation (YKNM).
How do I apply for JKM financial aid?
You can apply manually with the JKM18 Form at a District, Divisional or Branch Social Welfare Office, or online through the eBantuan JKM portal. Each application is means-tested, and applicants should first be registered in the National Poverty Database System (eKasih).
How do I register as an OKU (person with disability)?
Malaysian citizens certified by a government medical expert submit the BPPOKU registration form (Amendment 2/2019) with a medical verification report and a MyKad copy (or birth certificate for applicants under 12), either at a JKM counter or online via the MyDaftar OKU portal. A successful applicant receives an OKU Card showing their disability category.
The following are deliberately unstated or described only qualitatively until confirmed by a subject-matter expert:
- Exact establishment month — JKM's own social media states April 1946, but confirm against an official JKM 'Sejarah/History' page before stating the month (1946 as the year is attested by Simple English Wikipedia).
- Current Director-General's name — a search surfaced a name from the KPWKM org chart, but DG appointments change; verify on kpwkm.gov.my or jkm.gov.my before naming, or keep the role generic.
- Current income thresholds / B40 or PGK (Poverty Line Income) figures used in JKM means-testing — do not state a specific RM figure without confirming on an official JKM/DOSM source, as these are periodically revised.
- Exact monthly amounts (RM) for each scheme (SARA, STR, Bantuan Am, BKK, BWE, BAP) — confirm current rates on jkm.gov.my before publishing any ringgit figure.
- OKU registration processing time (search suggested 5–14 working days) — not stated on the official malaysia.gov.my page reviewed; verify before asserting.
- Full statutory stack beyond Act 685 (e.g. Child Act 2001 / Act 611, Care Centres Act 1993 / Act 506, Destitute Persons Act 1977 / Act 183) — confirm each on lom.agc.gov.my before citing JKM's enforcement role.
Sources
- Applying for Social Welfare Department (JKM) Aid — Malaysia Government Official Portal (malaysia.gov.my)
- Definition of OKU — Malaysia Government Official Portal (malaysia.gov.my)
- OKU Card Application — Malaysia Government Official Portal (malaysia.gov.my)
- OKU Registration — Malaysia Government Official Portal (malaysia.gov.my)
- Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development — Wikipedia
- Direktori — Jabatan Kebajikan Masyarakat — Jabatan Kebajikan Masyarakat (jkm.gov.my)
- Department of Social Welfare (Malaysia) — Simple English Wikipedia
Change history
| Version | Date | Change | By |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01.00 | 14 Aug 2026 | Approved and published. | — |