The new values of the Bolsa Família program, officially relaunched by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) at the beginning of the month, begin to be paid this week. People who have a Social Identification Number (NIS) ending in 1 can already withdraw from Monday (20).
From now on, the program will have new rules. Families with children up to six years old will receive an additional amount of R$150 for each child. According to government calculations, there are about 9 million children in this age group, whose families will start receiving the benefit in March.
According to the Ministry of Development and Social Assistance, Family and Fight against Hunger (MDS), which coordinates the program, almost 700,000 families that met the requirements and were outside the list of beneficiaries were included. Meanwhile, around 1.5 million families that did not meet the criteria were excluded.
With the rules that come into force this month, each benefited family will have a guaranteed minimum income of R$600. From 7 to 18 years old, the monthly increase will be R$50. R$50 will also be added for pregnant women.
The amounts can be withdrawn with the Bolsa Família card or with the extinct Auxílio Brasil, if the person was a beneficiary of the old program and will also receive the Bolsa Família. Withdrawals can be made at Caixa branches (including ATMs), lottery outlets and stores with the “Caixa Aqui” function.
How does Novo Bolsa Familia work?
Families with a monthly income of up to R$218 per person are entitled to the program;
The benefit is BRL 600 per family, at least;
Families with children up to 6 years receive an extra R$ 150;
Families with children and young people between 7 and 18 years old and with pregnant women or women who are breastfeeding will receive an additional R$ 50 from June;
Up-to-date vaccines, school attendance and prenatal care will be required;
The expectation is to distribute R$ 13.2 billion and reach 21.8 million families.
Editing: Rodrigo Durão Coelho
