The Brazilian federal government has unveiled the payment schedule for the Bolsa Família program for the year 2025, starting payments on January 20. According to the Ministry of Development and Social Assistance, Family and Combat to Hunger, the payment date is determined by the last digit of the Social Identification Number (NIS) associated with each beneficiary's card. Payments will be distributed within the last ten business days of each month, with the exception of December, when they will start earlier, on the 10th, to accommodate the holiday season.
The complete payment calendar for Bolsa Família has been disclosed as follows:
- January: January 20 to January 31;
- February: February 17 to February 28;
- March: March 18 to March 31;
- April: April 15 to April 30;
- May: May 19 to May 30;
- June: June 16 to June 30;
- July: July 18 to July 31;
- August: August 18 to August 29;
- September: September 17 to September 30;
- October: October 20 to October 31;
- November: November 14 to November 28;
- December: December 10 to December 23.
The payments are staggered, starting with families whose NIS ends with 1 on the first day of the month and continuing sequentially. Families with NIS ending with 0 will receive their payments last. The process allows for both digital transfers via the Caixa Tem app and direct withdrawals at ATMs for those who possess the Bolsa Família card.
The Bolsa Família program offers various financial benefits to qualifying families, helping to alleviate extreme poverty. The financial aid structure is as follows:
- Renda de Cidadania (BRC): R$ 142 per family member;
- Benefício Complementar (BCO): Additional amount to guarantee at least R$ 600 per household;
- Benefício Primeira Infância (BPI): An extra R$ 150 for each child under 7 years old;
- Benefício Variável Familiar (BVF): Additional R$ 50 for pregnant women and for children/teens aged 7 to 18 years;
- Benefício Variável Familiar Nutriz (BVN): An extra R$ 50 for family members up to 7 months old;
- Benefício Extraordinário de Transição (BET): Ensures no family receives less than under the previous program (Auxílio Brasil), valid until May 2025.
To qualify for the Bolsa Família benefits, families must meet certain conditions related to health and education. These include maintaining school attendance of at least 60% for children aged 4-5 years and 75% for children and youth aged 6-18 years, as well as ensuring prenatal health checks for expectant mothers and up-to-date vaccinations for children.
Beneficiaries must stay aware of the payment dates to guarantee continued support. The registration must be completed through the Cadastro Único for Government Social Programs, updated at least every 24 months. The upcoming criteria from 2025 include the requirement for biometric updates as part of the registration.
The specifics of the Bolsa Família program underlines the government’s commitment to social assistance, aiding millions of families by promoting food security and economic relief. Keeping documents for each family member updated is key to preventing any disruption of benefits.
The Ministry of Development and Social Assistance, Family and Combat to Hunger emphasizes the importance of staying updated and urges beneficiaries to utilize the available resources efficiently. Access to benefits is seen not just as financial aid, but as part of Brazil's broader strategy to improve living standards and eradicate poverty.
