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The Bolsa Família, established in 2003 by Lula, pledged to restart its operations as promised during the election campaign. However, under Bolsonaro's administration, the government modified the program, making reforms imperative to increase its effectiveness in reducing poverty in Brazil.
Faced with this need for restructuring, the World Bank issued a technical note presenting a renewed model for Bolsa Família. According to the organization, this redesigned model would be more equitable and financially more viable for the government.
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The suggested model proposes replacing the base payment of 600 reais per family with an amount of 150 reais per family member, plus an additional 150 reais for each child or young person up to 18 years of age.
Read also: Bolsa Família: Digitizing Documents Is Essential for Single-Person Households!
Advantages of the New Bolsa Família Model
The model suggested by the World Bank offers several advantages to the Bolsa Família program. Initially, it would ensure more equitable payments, taking into account the number of family members and children. Additionally, the new model would be more economically viable for the government, enabling a more effective distribution of the program’s resources.
Implementation Challenges
Despite the advantages highlighted, the World Bank acknowledges that implementing this innovative model would be a political obstacle. The change would require abandoning the program’s current format, which could face opposition from those who receive the base payment of 600 reais.
Simulation and Impacts
A detailed analysis of the model will be released shortly. According to the World Bank, the innovative model would benefit 46% of the families currently covered by the program. However, approximately 43% of beneficiaries could experience reductions in their payments.
Therefore, it would be essential to create a transition mechanism for families that would begin receiving less than the base amount.
Current Bolsa Família Benefits
- Citizenship Income Benefit (BRC): The BRC, the program's main benefit, consists of a per capita amount of R$ 142 granted to each family member, aimed at meeting essential food, health, and education needs.
- Complementary Benefit (BCO): The BCO is an additional amount granted to families whose total benefits do not reach R$ 600, ensuring a minimum income per family and providing a more consistent and adequate revenue.
- Early Childhood Benefit (BPI): The BPI adds R$ 150 per child between zero and seven years old, aiming to invest in child development during this vital period and ensure better health and education conditions.
- Family Variable Benefit (BVF): The BVF adds R$ 50 for pregnant women, children, and adolescents from 7 to under 18 years old. This benefit aims to support families in caring for and educating their children, providing additional income to meet their particular needs.
- Variable Family Nursing Benefit (BVN): The BVN provides an additional amount of R$ 50 per family member up to seven incomplete months old (nursing mother), aiming to provide financial assistance to families with babies in the lactation phase, meeting their nutritional needs.
- Extraordinary Transition Benefit (BET): The BET is a benefit granted under specific circumstances, ensuring that no beneficiary receives less than the amount provided by the predecessor program, Auxílio Brasil. The BET will be maintained until May 2025, enabling a smooth transition for beneficiaries.
Reflections on the Proposal for Bolsa Família
The World Bank's suggestion raises profound considerations about the Bolsa Família. It is essential to continuously evaluate and explore improvement methods, even though the program has been crucial in mitigating poverty in Brazil. The suggestion of a redesigned model may be significant in this direction, provided it is implemented cautiously, considering the effects on the families supported.
Read also: Registration for Bolsa Família: Find out which documents are required at CRAS.
Additionally, the World Bank presents a revised model for Bolsa Família, aiming to make it more equitable and financially sustainable for the government. Changing the base payment to an amount per family member and adding a supplement per child would benefit many families, but could also face political obstacles.
It is crucial to maintain dialogue and analysis to discover effective strategies that address the needs of vulnerable Brazilian families.World Bank proposes reformulation of BOLSA FAMÍLIA; learn about the latest developments
