Find out all about the new Bolsa Família and all its exclusive advantages and benefits, as well as how to register to access it.
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The Brazilian government is known for having various campaigns and programmes to help the low-income population. Among these programmes is Bolsa Família, which is internationally renowned for being Brazil's largest cash transfer programme and responsible for lifting millions of families out of hunger.
The Bolsa Família programme was created by the federal government in 2003 and in 2018 was renamed Auxílio Brasil. However, at the beginning of 2023 the programme was revised and expanded by the government and renamed Bolsa Família. The new Bolsa Família now has new criteria, moulds and benefits, but maintains its main premise, which is to help reduce hunger and poverty.
As well as guaranteeing a basic income for these families, the project aims to restore their dignity and citizenship. With complementary actions and public policies, it aims not only to overcome poverty but also to bring about social transformation through assistance, sport, education, science and work.
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The new Bolsa Família now follows a model that takes into account the composition and particularities of each family. Therefore, households with larger families, including children, teenagers and pregnant women, will receive a higher amount of aid.
Thus, each family will receive at least R$ 600, but depending on the configuration of the family nucleus, this amount can go up to R$ 900.
Remember that to become a beneficiary of the programme, each member of the family must have an individual income that does not exceed the limit of R$ 218 and be duly registered with up-to-date information in the Federal Government's Single Registry for Social Programmes (CadÚnico).
The benefit follows the same logic in the payment calendar, which is organised according to the last number of the Social Identification Number (NIS) in the last 10 working days of each month. We'll present the 2023 calendar later.
Check out more details about the New Bolsa Família, and see everything that has changed, the criteria, benefit guarantees and more. Read on!
Quick Index
What has changed in the new Bolsa Família
Created in 2003, the Bolsa Família Programme was and is responsible for helping families living in poverty or extreme poverty. This programme consists of identifying these families and guaranteeing them a basic income, strengthening their access to basic rights such as health, education and social assistance.
In 2023, the programme follows the same premises, but with some updates. With its name taken over from Auxílio Brasil, the New Bolsa Família now has new rules compared to previous editions, and new complementary benefits.
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The minimum amount that each beneficiary will receive remains at R$ 600.00, but now there is the possibility of families receiving extra and complementary amounts, according to their family configuration, i.e. larger families will receive higher amounts than smaller families, for example.
Remember that the criteria that were required in the first version of the programme and which were discontinued during the Brazil Aid period, have been reinstated. Thus, in order to receive Bolsa Família, there are some requirements, such as:
- Children need to have their vaccination cards up to date;
- Children and teenagers need to maintain high attendance at school;
- Pregnant women follow prenatal care;
As for payment, the benefit maintains the same logic in the payment calendar, which takes place in the last 10 working days of each month and is organised on the basis of the last Social Identification Number (NIS).
Bolsa Família benefits
In addition to the minimum amount of R$ 600.00 per beneficiary, the new Bolsa Família guarantees the following complementary benefits:
- R$ 150.00 per child aged 0-6 (limit two children);
- R$ 50.00 per dependent aged between 7 and 18;
- R$ 50.00 per pregnant woman in the family.
To summarise, a family with four members: a father, a pregnant mother, a 15-year-old son and a 3-year-old son, will receive R$ 850.00 (R$ 600 + R$ 50 + R$ 150 + R$ 50).
Protection and guarantees for beneficiaries
In addition to the amounts received according to the family configuration, the new programme model also guarantees some other important benefits and guarantees:
PROTECTION
An innovation introduced to the Bolsa Família programme in June/2023 is the Protection Rule. This rule ensures that even if a family gets a job and improves their income, they can remain on the programme for up to two years.
During this period, the family will receive 50% of the benefit to which they are entitled. This measure aims to support the family for a certain period in order to guarantee greater financial stability and encourage the search for employment and entrepreneurial opportunities.
If, after 24 months, the family loses its source of income or decides to leave the programme, it will be entitled to the Guaranteed Return and the benefit will be reactivated.
Important! This rule only applies as long as each family member does not exceed half the minimum wage (R$ 660) in income.
DEFENCE
The new programme model also guarantees artisanal fishermen the possibility of receiving Bolsa Família and Seguro Defeso at the same time. This possibility of combining the two programmes had been prohibited in 2015, meaning that participation in one programme excluded participation in the other.
From that year, 2023, the possibility of artisanal fishermen participating in the two social programmes will come back into force.
CRITERIA
How you enter and participate in the Bolsa Família Programme depends on several factors, including registration in the Cadastro Único (Unified Registry), the availability of financial and budgetary resources, the estimate of families living in poverty in each municipality and the eligibility of families living in poverty.
In addition, the Ordinance also introduces a new criterion that can result in ineligibility, blocking, cancellation of benefits or the application of pending charges: the "irregular situation of the CPF in the Federal Revenue Service database, according to a pending charge identified in the Single Registry". This new criterion will come into force from next year.
Who is entitled to Bolsa Família
As it is a financial assistance programme aimed at socially vulnerable families, Bolsa Família's main criterion is income.
To be eligible for the programme, each member of the beneficiary family must have an individual income of up to R$ 218 and be duly registered with up-to-date information in the Federal Government's Single Registry for Social Programmes (CadÚnico).
To summarise, if one member of the family earns the minimum wage (R$ 1,320) and there are 7 people in the family, the income of each person is approximately R$ 188.57, which is less than the R$ 218 per person used as a criterion. Therefore, this family is entitled to the Bolsa Família benefit.
In addition, the programme establishes certain conditions that families must meet in order to continue receiving Bolsa Família. These include:
- Provide proof of your children's school attendance;
- Keeping the vaccination cards of all members up to date;
- Pregnant women should have prenatal care;
- Children up to the age of 6 should have their nutrition monitored.
How to register
In order to have access to the Bolsa Família Programme, you need to be duly registered in the Single Registry, with accurate and up-to-date information. This registration process takes place at municipal social assistance offices, such as the Social Assistance Reference Centres (CRAS).
To enrol, you must present your CPF or voter registration card during the enrolment process, as well as the documents of all family members such as:
- CPF;
- RG;
- Birth certificate;
- Labour card;
- Proof of Residence.
Check out the details of how to enrol, how to update your details and other information in our article on the Single Registry.
Important! Even after enrolling in the Unified Registry, a family is not automatically enrolled in Bolsa Família. Every month, the programme carries out an automated identification of the families that will be included and start receiving the benefit. The criteria for admission to the programme are evaluated on a recurring basis.
Bolsa Família Calendar 2023
The Bolsa Família payment schedule is determined based on the last digit of the beneficiaries' Social Identification Number (NIS). When the benefit is approved, each member of the family receives a NIS number, and to consult the calendar, it is important to look at the last digit before the dash.
Here is the Bolsa Família calendar for 2023:
To check whether you have been approved for Bolsa Família, you have the option of using the Cadastro Único website or application. You can choose between the "Simple Enquiry" or the "Single Registry Enquiry by CPF" and enter your personal information to check the status of your approval.
Conclusion
In short, the New Bolsa Família represents an ongoing effort by the Brazilian government to support families in situations of vulnerability, offering financial benefits and promoting dignity and citizenship.
The updates introduced in 2023 include flexible payment criteria, new complementary benefits and protection measures for families seeking to improve their economic situation.
The programme continues to be an important tool in the fight against poverty and in promoting the well-being of Brazilian families in need. So if you believe you're entitled or know someone who is, share this article and go after your benefit.
Make sure you regularly check the payment calendar and keep your data up to date in the Single Registry to ensure eligibility and access to the benefit.
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