Take a look at the Auxílio Brasil programme created in 2021 and find out which programme took its place
Auxílio Brasil was a programme that ran in Brazil for just over two years. It was created in 2021 by the federal government to replace Bolsa Família, a programme that had been in place since 2003.
Like its predecessor, the main aim of Auxílio Brasil was to give beneficiary families a monthly sum to lift them out of extreme poverty and guarantee them housing, food, health and education.
In other words, the purpose of Auxílio Brasil was to guarantee a basic income to the families that benefited from it, encouraging development, autonomy and overcoming the financial difficulties that mainly plague low-income families and situations of poverty.
Auxílio Brasil has had a great importance and impact on families, especially during the Covid-19 pandemic, because it was a guarantee of income for the neediest families affected by the change in the economy.
In May 2022, the amount of the allowance was set at R$ 400 per month, and in July 2022 the amount was readjusted to R$ 600 per month with the guarantee that it would be paid by December 2022.
In January 2023, with the prospect of a new government, the same one that created the programme in 2003, Brazil Aid returned to its original name, Bolsa Família, and was relaunched with new criteria for participation, a minimum amount of R$ 600 and extra amounts according to family configuration.
In this article we've summarised the main information about the former Brazil Aid and its replacement, the reformulated Bolsa Família. Read on to find out more.
Quick Index:
Brazil Aid: how did it come about?
Auxílio Brasil was created to replace the Bolsa Família programme. It came about as a response by the federal government to the need for a readjustment in the amounts paid to beneficiaries, as well as a reformulation of the social programme. Bolsa Família, which had existed since 2003, was considered limited in the context of rising inflation and the cost of living in the country.
With the transformation into Auxílio Brasil, the government intended not only to increase the average value of the benefit, but also to expand the number of families served and restructure the programme's conditionalities. The aim was to provide greater social protection and guarantee a more dignified minimum income for vulnerable families.
In addition to the increase in the average value of the benefit, Auxílio Brasil incorporated other social programmes, such as Bolsa Família, the Continuous Cash Benefit (BPC), Renda Brasil and the National Programme for Access to Technical Education and Employment (Pronatec). This has enabled a more comprehensive approach to dealing with poverty and inequality in the country.
Auxílio Brasil was launched with the aim of being more than just a cash transfer programme. It also aims to promote social inclusion, access to education and professional training, so that the families who benefit can better overcome their situation of vulnerability and become more financially independent.
Has Brazil Aid been cancelled?
Brazil Aid has not been cancelled. It was a replacement for Bolsa Família, and its amounts were increased and guaranteed until the end of 2022. In January 2023, the federal government restored the old name to Bolsa Família and relaunched the programme with new criteria and benefits.
In short, Bolsa Família was replaced by Auxílio Brasil, and Auxílio Brasil was replaced by Novo Bolsa Família.
Families registered with Brazil Aid continue to receive benefits as long as they continue to meet the selection criteria.
New Family Allowance
The Bolsa Família Programme plays a fundamental role in combating poverty in Brazil, and has brought with it some improvements since 2023.
As well as providing a basic income, Bolsa Família seeks to integrate public policies and strengthen the protection of families in situations of social vulnerability, with a view to their autonomy and coping with adversity.
Bolsa Família is made up of four main benefits:
- Early Childhood Benefit: Aimed at families with children aged 0 to 6, this benefit amounts to R$ 150 per child in this age group.
- Citizen's Income Benefit: Paid to all family members, amounting to R$ 142 per person.
- Family Variable Benefit: Aimed at families with pregnant women, children aged between 7 and 12 and/or teenagers aged between 12 and 18. The amount is R$ 50 per person who fulfils the criteria.
- Complementary Benefit: Granted to families benefiting from the Bolsa Família Programme when the Citizenship Income Benefit is not enough to reach the minimum amount of R$ 600 per family. The supplement is calculated to ensure that no family receives less than this amount.
Who is entitled
To benefit from the programme, each member of the family must have an individual income of up to R$ 218 and be duly registered in the Federal Government's Single Registry for Social Programmes (CadÚnico) with up-to-date information.
For example, if one member of the family earns a minimum wage (R$ 1,320) and the family consists of 7 people, the individual income of each member is approximately R$ 188.57, which is less than the R$ 218 per person required as a criterion. Therefore, this family is entitled to the Bolsa Família benefit.
In addition, the programme establishes certain conditions that beneficiary families must meet in order to continue receiving the benefit, such as providing proof of their children's school attendance, keeping their vaccination cards up to date, carrying out prenatal care for pregnant women and ensuring nutritional monitoring for children up to the age of 6.
How to register
- Go to a social assistance office in your municipality, such as the Social Assistance Reference Centre (CRAS).
- Bring the following documents for all family members:
- CPF or voter registration;
- RG;
- Birth certificate;
- Labour card;
- Proof of residence.
- During the enrolment process, submit the necessary documents.
- After registering with the Unified Registry, wait for the automated identification of the families that will be included in Bolsa Família.
Important:
- Registration in the Unified Registry does not automatically guarantee inclusion in the Bolsa Família.
- The criteria for admission to the programme are assessed monthly in an automated way.
Read also: All about Bolsa Família 2024
