The distribution of social assistance in Indonesia often faces challenges in accuracy, where individuals who are financially capable still receive aid, while those truly in need are excluded. To address this issue, this study applies a Machine Learning approach using the C4.5 Decision Tree algorithm to classify the eligibility of recipients in Bojonggenteng Village. This algorithm was chosen because it is easy to interpret, performs well, and is suitable for categorical data. The main objective of the study is to develop a classification model that enhances the objectivity and accuracy in determining aid recipients, ensuring that assistance is directed to those who truly need it. The research process involves several stages, including problem identification, literature review, data collection, preprocessing, classification, and model evaluation. A total of 904 records from the 2023 BPNT and PBI-JK programs were obtained in collaboration with the local village authorities. The classification process was conducted using RapidMiner, which allows for visual data processing and model building without requiring programming. The model evaluation was carried out using a confusion matrix, yielding an accuracy of 98.90%, precision of 100%, recall of 97.60%, and an AUC score of 0.988. These results indicate that the C4.5 algorithm is effective for prediction tasks and can be a valuable tool in supporting fair and data-driven decision-making in social assistance programs. This study concludes that the application of Machine Learning in this context improves the fairness and transparency of aid distribution and recommends future research to involve larger datasets for broader implementation.
Perhan et al. (Sun,) studied this question.