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Bolsa Família, the country's main assistance program, provides monthly funds from the Federal Government to improve the quality of life of the most needy Brazilian families.
In short, the basic benefit amount is R$ 600, but, based on the family composition, program participants may receive a significantly higher amount.
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Although this news is encouraging for Bolsa Família participants, who may receive more than R$ 600 per month, there are other program rules that may, conversely, reduce the amount paid. Specifically, the benefit amount granted to a particular group of participants may be cut in half.
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Recently, the government announced that the benefit for some families may be reduced by 50%. However, it is important to emphasize that this reduction does not affect all beneficiaries. In any case, it is essential to discuss the Bolsa Família Protection Rule, which entails this reduction.
Understand the Bolsa Família Protection Rule
First of all, it is important to emphasize that Bolsa Família was reinstated in Brazil in March of this year, thanks to the Lula government, which implemented several changes to the benefit. As a result, Auxílio Brasil, created in 2021 during the government of former president Jair Bolsonaro, was discontinued, giving way to the former social program.
The revised Bolsa Família replaced Auxílio Brasil’s Emancipation Rule with the Protection Rule. Previously, participants could qualify for Bolsa Família if they had an income of up to R$ 210 per family member. Under the new rule, the amount increased to R$ 218 per month.
However, families that are already part of Bolsa Família and experience an increase in income, exceeding the R$ 218 limit, do not lose the benefit immediately. In short, even if they do not meet this criterion, families continue to receive the amount provided by the Federal Government for another two years.
Thus, families will have two years to adjust their finances before the benefit stops being paid. In fact, during these two years, the government will pay only 50% of the installment amount to which the families were entitled.
Why does the government reduce the benefit amount?
For those who are not informed, Bolsa Família has three main goals:
Read also: Bolsa Família Withdrawal Without Documents Shocks Brazilians
- Combat hunger through the direct transfer of income to beneficiary families;
- Help interrupt the cycle of poverty reproduction across generations;
- Promote the development and social protection of families, especially children, adolescents, and young people living in poverty.
Families whose income increases and who manage to leave the group of the country's most vulnerable people lose the right to receive the benefit. In addition, there are some criteria that must be met for people to be eligible for Bolsa Família.
This means that the Federal Government could immediately remove families that do not meet all the requirements of the income transfer program. However, the Bolsa Família Protection Rule guarantees receipt of 50% of the amount for another two years if the family income exceeds R$ 218 per person.
July payment schedule
Payment of the July installment of Bolsa Família will begin soon. Therefore, participants in the social program are eagerly awaiting receipt of the new benefit this month.
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Payments are made according to the final digit of the participants' Social Identification Number (NIS). In fact, it is the NIS that allows the Federal Government to identify citizens who receive social benefits in the country.
As payments are made according to the last digit of the NIS, a new group gains access to the amount in their accounts each business day every month. Incidentally, beneficiary families in the program receive the amount through Caixa Econômica Federal, at the bank's branches or via the Caixa Tem app.
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See below the Bolsa Família payment schedule for July 2023:
- NIS ending in 1: July 18;
- NIS ending in 2: July 19;
- NIS ending in 3: July 20;
- NIS ending in 4: July 21;
- NIS ending in 5: July 24;
- NIS ending in 6: July 25;
- NIS ending in 7: July 26;
- NIS ending in 8: July 27;
- NIS ending in 9: July 28;
- NIS ending in 0: July 31.
The program's payment schedule distributes payments over the last business days of each month, following the final NIS number, starting with number 1 and ending with number 0. Therefore, participants will have to wait another two weeks to start receiving the July installment.
