Are you a Bolsa Família recipient? See the changes to the program with the new MP ratified by the Chamber of Deputies!
On Tuesday night, May 30, 2023, provisional measure 1,164/2023 was approved by the Chamber of Deputies. The MP, enacted by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT), seeks to revive Bolsa Família and subsequently replace Auxílio Brasil. The bill had been awaiting approval by Congress since March and was on the verge of becoming invalid. Now, it goes to the Senate for a vote, with changes suggested by the deputies, who have another 120 days to review the proposal. Understand the details and how this affects the benefit.
See the aspects covered in the new Bolsa Família MP
Minimum monthly payment of R$600 per household and R$142 per individual;
Additional R$150 for each child in early childhood (0 to 6 years old), starting in March of this year;
Bonus of R$50 for each pregnant woman, nursing mother and dependent, child between 7 and 12 years old (incomplete) or teenager between 12 and 18 years old (incomplete), starting this month of June;
Maximum monthly per capita income of R$218 as eligibility criterion for the program (currently the amount granted is R$210).
Main changes to the new Bolsa Família MP
Ensuring Gas Aid
The deputies guaranteed the granting of the Gas Aid every two months. This is because the MP of the gas voucher would legally expire this Friday (02), if it were not reconsidered. In addition, the total value of the average of a 13-kilo cylinder will be made available.
Inclusion of lactating women in the extra R$50 monthly
Among the most relevant new measures presented by the MP's rapporteur, federal deputy Dr. Francisco (PT/Piauí), is the addition of lactating women to the group receiving the additional payment of R$50 per month. In this way, the extra payment would not only apply to pregnant women, but would also extend to lactating women. Therefore, there is an impact of R$229.67 million per year, according to data from Agência Brasil.
Accumulation of Bolsa Família with the Continuous Benefit Payment (BPC)
The minimum wage received by participants in this program would not be fully counted as income. In this sense, there will be no obstacle to the simultaneous payment of Bolsa Família. According to a note released by Agência Câmara, “a rule, which may be issued as of January 2024, will determine the discount of percentage bands of the BPC received by people with disabilities in the estimate of the monthly per capita family income required to apply for Bolsa Família”.
