Advertisements
Many Bolsa Família beneficiaries fear losing the benefit if they get a formal job. We will explain the law
Year after year, one question persists: can a Bolsa Família beneficiary work formally? Over time, the federal government's social program has undergone several rule changes, raising this question for many people. So, what does the law that established the program stipulate?
Advertisements
According to the current Bolsa Família rules, to be eligible, a person must have an active and up-to-date account in the CadÚnico system, as well as a per capita income of up to R$ 218. By meeting these two conditions, the person is entitled to the income transfer benefit.
Therefore, there is no provision in the law that established Bolsa Família prohibiting a person from having a formal job. As long as they continue to meet the eligibility conditions, the beneficiary may combine their work earnings with those from the federal government program.
Read also: WITHDRAWAL OF ‘FORGOTTEN MONEY’ FROM BANKS IS RELEASED; SEE HOW TO DO IT.
Employment vs. per capita income
However, it is important to pay attention to your per capita income. When obtaining formal employment, a person will automatically have an increase in this income. The job itself is not a factor that can disqualify a person from Bolsa Família, but the increase in income may cause problems.
The Ministry of Social Development, Family and the Fight Against Hunger, responsible for Bolsa Família payments, advises that people should pay attention to the size of the increase in their per capita income to understand what may happen to their Bolsa Família account.
The levels of increase
There are three situations involving an increase in income that may have different consequences for the beneficiary. See below:
- Increase in income to less than R$ 218 per capita
If you obtain a job but your family's per capita income remains below R$ 218, you will continue to be entitled to receive Bolsa Família as usual. This is the only situation in which a person can receive both their work salary and the program's full benefit at the same time.
- Increase to between R$ 219 and R$ 660
When a person starts working and raises their family's per capita income to between R$ 219 and R$ 660, the situation changes. In this case, the beneficiary enters the so-called Transition Rule. They will continue receiving Bolsa Família, but only for another two years, and at an amount 50% lower than usual.
- Increase to more than R$660
Suppose a third situation in which the person gets a job with a higher salary and now has a per capita income above R$ 660. In this case, Bolsa Família is canceled immediately. The government understands that a family with this level of per capita income no longer needs the program's money.
How to calculate per capita income for Bolsa Família
Read also: Bolsa Família Withdrawal Without Documents Shocks Brazilians
Calculating your family's per capita income does not require being a math genius. Just paper and pencil or even a calculator to perform this calculation. The result of this calculation will determine whether you can continue receiving Bolsa Família even after getting a job.
To do the calculation, add up all the monthly earnings of all members of your family. Then divide this total by the number of members living in the same household. The result of this simple equation is your family’s per capita income.
Advertisements
This is the calculation the Federal Government uses to determine who can receive the social benefit money.
