Bolsa Familia is back! So let’s explain what changes in the benefit for 2023.
With the inauguration of the new president in 2023, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, the flagship of the politician’s other terms underwent changes.
The 77-year-old petista is in his 3rd term. Lula was elected in the 2nd round with 50.90% of the votes, against Bolsonaro’s 49.10%.
The provisional measure with the new Bolsa Família rules was signed in March of this year. Are they:
- Minimum of BRL 600.00 per family;
- Additional R$ 150.00 for children up to 6 years old;
- Extra R$50.00 for children over 7 years old and young people under 18 years old; It is
- Complementary value of R$ 50.00 per pregnant woman.
The new Bolsa Família should inject R$18 billion more than the previous version, from the government of Jair Bolsonaro. And, according to the government, 700,000 new families will benefit from the changes.
Still in this article, we will explain in detail the novelties that happened in the Lula Government in relation to Bolsa Família. Don’t miss it.
Now, let’s recall a little the history of this benefit so popular among Brazilians.
The history of Bolsa Familia
Bolsa Família is a direct income transfer program of the Federal Government of Brazil, with the objective of reducing poverty in the country.
Considering that it benefits families in poverty or extreme poverty. And, it ensures the human right to adequate and nutritional food, contributing to the achievement of citizenship for the most vulnerable.
Created in the Lula government by Provisional Measure 132, of October 20, 2003 and transformed into Federal Law number 10,836, on January 9, 2004.
Bolsa Família unified and expanded other income support programs from the previous government of Fernando Henrique Cardoso. Among them, Bolsa-escola, CadÚnico, Bolsa-alimentação and Auxílio-gas.
How does Bolsa Familia work?
The Bolsa Família works as an income transfer program with the objective of supporting the families of the most needy to have access to health, education and social assistance.
The selection to receive the benefit is based on the family’s income, favoring people who are in extreme poverty.
Under the national management of the Ministry of Social Development and Fight against Hunger (MDS), the program has contributed to reducing inequality in Brazil.
What’s new in Bolsa Família – find out what’s changed
Bolsa Família beneficiaries are happy with the news of the benefit. According to the government, 700,000 new families will benefit from the changes.
However, the amount paid per month by the government should vary. This is because families will be disengaged from the program for not meeting the criteria.
Among these numbers, approximately 400,000 are registered as families of a single person (unipersonal).
However, the government believes that another 694,000 families will enter the program in March. Still in this post, you will know how to receive the benefit.
The main change in Bolsa Família for 2023 is the increase in the minimum amount of benefit per family.
In the previous government, of Jair Bolsonaro, the maximum paid per family was R$400.00. Today, under the current administration, it will be R$600.00.
Among the changes for the relaunch of Bolsa Família for 2023 is the inclusion of the payment of an extra benefit per child up to 6 years of age of R$150.00.
For children from 7 years old and young people up to 18 years old, an extra benefit of R$50.00 will be paid. The same amount will be paid for pregnant women.
The budget available for Bolsa Família in 2023 will be around R$175 billion, according to the Minister of Development and Social Assistance, Wellington Dias.
The announcement was made at the program’s relaunch event, on March 3 of this year, with the presence of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
Bolsa Família payment dates
Even with the changes made by the government that include the extra payment for children up to 6 years old from 7 to 18 years old and pregnant women, only the first one will be paid in March.
Let’s explain each benefit, with amount and date of payment:
- Early Childhood Benefit – additional amount of R$150.00 for children up to 6 years old – payment in March; It is
- Variable Family Allowance – additional amounts of R$50.00 for children between 7 and 18 years of age and additional R$50.00 for pregnant women – both will be paid only in June.
The relaunch of the Bolsa Família Program was a campaign proposal by Lula. And it is the government’s bid for success in the social area of its new mandate.
Find out the details for the March calendar in this article here.
Who can receive the Bolsa Família benefit?
The first step for the family to be part of the program is to be enrolled in the Cadastro Único.
CadÚnico gathers information about each member of the family and the conditions of the houses where they live.
The second step, and the main criterion for receiving the benefit, is to have a monthly income of up to R$2018.00 per person in each family.
That is, all the income generated by the members of the family, per month, divided by the number of persons in the family, must be a maximum of R$218.00.
Learn more about the Single Registry on the Government.
