Brasília – The Caixa Econômica Federal has concluded the payment of December's Bolsa Família, impacting millions of families across Brazil. On Monday, December 23, beneficiaries with the final digit of their Número de Inscrição Social (NIS) being 0 will receive their payments. This month, the minimum benefit has been set at R$ 600, but with additional support, the average value of the benefit has increased to R$ 678.36. According to the Ministry of Development and Social Assistance, the program reached 20.81 million families, with total expenditure amounting to R$ 14.07 billion.
Fundamentally, the Bolsa Família program is structured to assist vulnerable families by providing monthly financial support. The financial aid is not just one-dimensional; it includes multiple types of payments. For example, families with infants aged up to six months receive six monthly payments totaling R$ 50. Maternity support is also factored, providing R$ 50 to families with expectant mothers or children aged 7 to 18 years, and families with children under 6 years can receive R$ 150. This comprehensive alteration aims to support families during challenging times.
A remarkable aspect of the Bolsa Família program is its payment schedule, which traditionally occurs during the last ten business days of each month. Beneficiaries can conveniently check their payment details, including amounts and schedules, through the Caixa Tem app, which is also used for tracking digital savings accounts.
Specific to the impact of natural disasters this year, families affected by floods from April to June were addressed with unified payments on December 10, regardless of their NIS numbers. These affected regions include Rio Grande do Sul, Amazonas, Paraná, Rondônia, and São Paulo, where the aftermath of climatic challenges necessitated immediate financial support. The unification of payments aided 59 municipalities across Amazonas and 52 municipalities within Rondônia suffered primarily due to droughts and flooding.
Since this year, Bolsa Família beneficiaries have seen operational shifts with the discontinuation of the Seguro Defeso deduction. This redundancy was enclosed by Law 14.601/2023, focusing on reestablishing the Bolsa Família program’s strengths. The Seguro Defeso previously provided income assistance to artisanal fishermen during certain breeding seasons, but the removal of this discount means beneficiaries will receive the full amount they're entitled to.
Another new development relates to the 'protection rule' intended to soothe vulnerable families. Approximately 2.74 million families will benefit from this regulation, which has been active since June last year. This ruling permits families who gain employment without exceeding set income levels to receive 50% of the benefits they would otherwise qualify for, for up to two years. This effort echoes the government's commitment to maintain assistance as families transition toward improved financial conditions. Recently, the average benefit for these families stood at R$ 370.33.
The integration of Bolsa Família data with the Cadastro Nacional de Informações Sociais (CNIS) has also resulted in increased scrutiny of available resources. This month alone, around 280,000 families were removed from the program due to reported household income exceeding established limits. The CNIS system plays an instrumental role, maintaining over 80 billion records related to income, employment ties, and various social welfare benefits. Conversely, around 200,000 families have been added to Bolsa Família, demonstrating the effectiveness of targeted outreach and support systems for low-income individuals.
Another program linking to Bolsa Família is the Auxílio Gás, which is slated for payment this coming Monday to families registered with the Cadastro Único for Social Programs, focusing on those with NIS ending with 0. This month’s assistance is set at R$ 104. A delay impacted earlier distributions, but those with NIS 1 and 2 received their payments on December 12, whereas subsequent beneficiaries followed the pre-established release schedule.
Projected until the end of 2026, the Auxílio Gás program aims to support about 5.5 million households. Following constitutional amendments made at the end of 2022, the subsidy guarantees coverage of 100% of the average price for the widely utilized 13 kg gas cylinder. To qualify, candidates must be registered with the Cadastro Único and should include at least one family member receiving the Benefício de Prestação Continuada (BPC). Preference is extended to women, particularly heads of households and victims of domestic violence.
Overall, the Bolsa Família program remains pivotal for millions, weaving financial stability through targeted assistance as Brazilian families maneuver through their daily struggles. With adjustments to current regulations continuing to take shape, the program is expected to adapt to the nation’s most pressing needs.
