The Brazilian government announced this Thursday (2) the gradual increase in the average amount of aid to be delivered to families served by Bolsa Família. The benefit, known as Novo Bolsa Familia before it was R$606,91, will now be R$715 per family.
These resources, which are a real “hug” for thousands of people in the country, were received with great enthusiasm and surprise by the population. With this announcement, the government ended the Auxílio Brasil program, implemented by the Jair Bolsonaro (PL) government. The MP (provisional measure) that recreates the New Bolsa Família was signed by Lula and will be forwarded to the Congress.
Payouts under the new format begin March 20. It is a light at the end of the tunnel for thousands of Brazilians who need this financial “heat” to survive. The federal government announced on Wednesday (1st) the basic guidelines of the New Bolsa Família, which will offer Brazilians a minimum benefit of R$600 per family.
According to calculations by the Ministry of Development and Social Assistance, this amount will serve around 20,8 million homes in 2021, with around 700 families that were not previously covered. included in the program.
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The benefit will be calculated initially per person — BRL 142 for each member —, ranging from the minimum income for single-person families to supplements for those with a smaller number of members.
The policy of New Bolsa Família also includes an additional R$150 per child aged 0-6 and R$50 per member aged 7-18. These data represent a reduction in relation to the number of beneficiaries previously by the Brazil aid due to the withdrawal of families that received the benefit irregularly.
With these measures, the government seeks to end distortions and ensure a continuous and equitable flow for all Brazilians, a promise made during the elections by both Lula and Bolsonaro. The readjustment was carried out based on a Proposal for an Amendment to the Constitution (PEC) articulated by Lula, to allocate a ceiling of R$175 billion to the New Scholarship Family. Despite that, the amount spent on the program during 2023 it should be between R$168 billion and R$175 billion, according to technicians.
During the program's launch ceremony, minister Wellington Dias stated that 'it was challenging to build a new house without demolishing the old house', and explained that the families already contemplated by the Brazil aid will not be immediately excluded from Bolsa Família. However, a 'guaranteed return' was announced for those who voluntarily withdraw from the program or lose income and need to return.
The minister also reported on a protection rule for those who get a job with signed card: the family can increase its income up to half a minimum wage per member without being immediately excluded from the social benefit. The president of Caixa Econômica Federal (CEF), Rita Serrano, also announced that all Bolsa Família cards will become debit cards.
At the end of the ceremony, the minister was moved by the cause and made an appeal: “Let's remove Brazil from the Hunger Map. Let's get Brazil off the map food insecurity and nutritional!” he said, as he asked the audience to pray an Our Father out loud.
The news that all Brazilians were waiting for was announced: the new format of Bolsa Família was revealed.
Now, low-income families can count on a basic benefit per person of R$142 per month, plus a guaranteed minimum payment of R$600 per family. Children and teenagers up to 18 years old will also be entitled to an additional R$150 and R$50, respectively.
As a result, families will receive an average of R$715 per month. The government allocated BRL 175 billion to the New Scholarship Family this year and is estimated to benefit around 20,8 million families – a mountain of hope for millions who live in a sea of difficulties. Payments under the new format will start on the 20th of March, but the impact will be felt at every brazilian home.