BOLSA FAMÍLIA: Documentation Required for Registration with CRAS!

Bolsa Família represents Brazil’s most prominent income transfer program. Each month, Caixa Econômica Federal is responsible for distributing this benefit to millions of socioeconomically vulnerable families in the country.

In September, the Federal Government allocated R$ 14.58 billion to the benefit, reaching 21.47 million families. The average amount per beneficiary was R$ 686.89 last month, making it the second-highest average amount ever paid by the program, surpassed only by June (R$ 705).

Read also:Bank proposes changes to Bolsa Família payments; concerns arise.

Indeed, it is essential to mention that, in addition to Bolsa Família, the government provides other social programs, thus ensuring coverage of the basic needs of Brazilians who do not have sufficient income to access all the rights guaranteed by the Federal Constitution.

Importance of the Cadastro Único

In general, there are several government tools for identifying and describing low-income people in Brazil. The Cadastro Único (CadÚnico), under the coordination of the Ministry of Development and Social Assistance, Family and Fight Against Hunger (MDS), is particularly noteworthy.

CadÚnico makes it possible to participate in social programs, such as Bolsa Família. However, registration in the database does not automatically ensure entry into government programs, since each program has its own eligibility criteria.

Therefore, registration in the Cadastro Único is essential to access the benefits.

How to Register with CadÚnico

According to government regulations, CadÚnico was created to include lower-income families in social programs; therefore, only low-income citizens are eligible for the benefits.

The criteria for registering with CadÚnico are:

• Families with a monthly income of up to half the minimum wage per person (R$ 660);
• Families with a total monthly income of up to 3 minimum wages (R$ 3.960);
• Families with a monthly income above half the minimum wage per person who are participating in or requesting inclusion in programs or benefits that use the Cadastro Único;
• Homeless individuals, alone or with their family.

Enrollment requires the person to go to a Social Assistance Reference Center (CRAS) or Cadastro Único office and undergo an interview about the family structure.

Required Documents

Attending the CRAS is crucial to answer questions about the family's income, expenses, and living and household conditions. It is essential to be honest to avoid benefits being blocked due to inconsistent data.

At the CRAS or CadÚnico, the person responsible for the family must show their CPF or voter registration card. For other family members, any of the following documents is valid:

• Birth Certificate;
• Marriage Certificate;
• CPF;
• Identity Card;
• Work Card;
• Voter Registration Card.

After the interview, the citizen will obtain the Social Identification Number (NIS) if they do not already have one. With the NIS, families can join social programs through CadÚnico.

Read also:Lula Addresses Changes to Bolsa Família and Clarifies Essential Questions

September Bolsa Família Payment Schedule

Caixa Econômica payments are made over the last ten business days, according to the beneficiaries' NIS final digit. Thus, a new group receives the amount in their accounts each business day. September payments concluded last Friday (29). Now, everyone is awaiting the October payment.

Bolsa Família Advance Payment in October?

Fortunately, for millions of beneficiaries, the advance payment of Bolsa Família was confirmed by the federal government for two groups in October. Those who will be able to access the payment early are applicants with NIS numbers ending in 4 and 9.

In short, the government has adopted the strategy of bringing forward payments scheduled for Mondays. Thus, the payment is made available on the previous Saturday, two days before the date set in the official Bolsa Família calendar, allowing beneficiaries to access the benefit over the weekend. Therefore, if you belong to one of these groups, celebrate! October's Bolsa Família will arrive earlier.