Portuguese 
English 
Spanish 
4 min of reading 
0 comments 
New Federal Government Program Expands Benefit for 15.5 Million Families and Exchanges Cash Transfer for Gas Voucher with Direct Withdrawal at Authorized Resellers.
The federal government launched the Gas for the People, a reformulation of the Gas Aid that triples the target audience and promises to guarantee the 13 kg gas cylinder for free to low-income families. The program was established by Provisional Measure 1.313/2025, announced on September 4, and aims to reach around 50 million people (15.5 million families).
The main difference lies in the payment method. Instead of cash deposits, as was done in the Gas Aid every two months (with amounts calculated by the ANP), the new model adopts an electronic voucher for withdrawing the cylinder directly at the authorized reseller, which, according to the government, increases control and transparency of public policy.
In practice, the two formats will coexist for a transition period. The government expects the first deliveries of Gas for the People to occur in November 2025, with gradual expansion until March 2026, when the new model should reach all eligible families. The estimate is that Gas for the People will distribute 65 million gas cylinders per year.
-
Experts say that China and Europe should join forces to reconfigure the global order, strengthen UN-centered multilateralism, and expand cooperation in trade, technology, and climate amid the US withdrawal and the advance of a multipolar world.
-
War with Iran halted 20% of the world’s oil, and now 70 supertankers are sailing to the US while desperate countries rush to Beijing in search of clean energy that only China can provide.
-
While China develops giant batteries and magnetic levitation trains, Brazil still hasn’t managed to get the bullet train between São Paulo and Rio off the ground, and now receives R$ 4 billion from Germany for an energy transition that the specialist says is behind schedule in its execution.
-
The US renews the license for the 759-megawatt Robinson nuclear power plant for another 20 years, until 2050, ensuring energy for 570,000 homes, nearly 500 jobs, and reinforcing Duke Energy’s plan to extend its 11 nuclear units.
How the Cylinder Withdrawal Will Work
The gas voucher will be issued in the name of the family head in the CadÚnico. Validation at the authorized reseller can occur through the program’s app, own card, QR Code via Caixa, or Bolsa Família card. The goal is to eliminate intermediaries and simplify the withdrawal logistics.
An important point: the home delivery fee is not included in the benefit. If the family opts to receive the cylinder at home, the shipping cost will be the responsibility of the beneficiary.
The participating resellers will be accredited and identified. Payment to the merchant will be made directly by Caixa, based on the reference price per state, defined by the MME and the Ministry of Finance using data from the ANP and updated periodically.
How Much Is the Benefit and Who Is Entitled
Unlike the previous model with a standardized amount, the Gas for the People adopts a state reference price, reflecting regional differences. There is no “change” if the local price is lower than the reference. The cylinder is available for free at the reseller upon electronic validation.
The target audience remains the same as for the Gas Aid: families registered in CadÚnico with per capita income of up to half the minimum wage (R$ 759), with priority for those receiving Bolsa Família. Accumulation with other benefits is allowed.
To gauge the need for the policy, the government cites data from the IBGE: 12.7 million families in Brazil still use firewood combined with LPG for cooking, and within this universe, about 5 million are low income.
How Many Cylinders Per Family and What Is the Calendar
In the new model, the annual quantity of cylinders varies with the size of the family: up to 3 units for households with 2 members, 4 for households with 3 members, and 6 for households with 4 or more people. The government’s projection is to distribute around 65 million cylinders per year when the program is fully implemented.
The schedule provides for the start of withdrawals in November 2025 and the universalization of the new format by March 2026. Until then, the Gas Aid remains operational for beneficiaries who have not yet migrated to the voucher.
Why Did the Government Change the Model
The bet on the gas voucher responds to two fronts. On one hand, increasing coverage compared to the Gas Aid, which served approximately 5 to 5.6 million families. On the other hand, improving targeting and the control of public spending, avoiding fraud and ensuring that the benefit turns into a cylinder, not cash with another destination.
The government also linked the policy to goals of just energy transition and clean cooking, with a budget forecast of R$ 3.57 billion (2025) and R$ 5.1 billion (2026) in the LOA.
Gas Aid vs. Gas for the People
In Gas Aid, the government deposited the full amount for the cylinder (13 kg) calculated by the ANP every two months, following the Bolsa Família calendar. In Gas for the People, there is no cash transfer: the family uses a voucher to withdraw the cylinder for free at the accredited network, with reference price per state and shipping separate if opting for delivery.
Those already on CadÚnico and the Gas Aid should follow the official channels to know when their city will enter the new modality and how to download or receive the voucher. The four options for validation (app, program card, QR Code via Caixa, and Bolsa Família card) will be detailed before the delivery starts. Accredited resellers will also be identified to facilitate the withdrawal.
Do you think it is correct for the shipping fee to be excluded from the benefit or should the government include delivery in the program for those who cannot pick up the cylinder? Leave your opinion in the comments, tell us how the gas price impacts your budget, and say if the gas voucher makes your life easier in practice.
-
-
-
-
12 people reacted to this.