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Freezing of resources affects the Ministry of Social Development. Beneficiaries of the National Gas Aid program express concern.
This week, the Ministry of Social Development, Family and Fight Against Hunger acknowledged that budgetary restrictions imposed by the federal government have affected it. However, the ministry guarantees that participants in the National Gas Aid program do not need to worry, as the transfers are guaranteed.
The federal government enacted the budget freeze decree on July 28. In addition to the Ministry of Social Development, Family and Fight against Hunger, nine other ministries suffered budgetary restrictions. Notably, the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Health also faced budget cuts.
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The federal government had to impose the freeze due to budgetary rules dictated by the public spending cap, which is still in force in 2023. The total value of the freeze amounts to R$1.5 billion.
In the specific case of the Ministry of Social Development, the reduction was approximately R$144 million. In principle, this freeze affects payments of the National Gas Aid, but the ministry assures that it will readjust the resources to cover the transfers in the months of August, October and December of this year.
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According to the Ministry of Social Development, the temporary cuts to the ministry's budget could be reversed by the end of this year, if the country's fiscal situation allows.
“If the release of the Federal Budget is insufficient, the MDS will realign resources from other discretionary actions to ensure payment of the Gas Aid, following the directive of the government of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva to ensure that federal resources reach those who need them most,” says the note from the Ministry of Social Development.
National gas aid
Read also: Check Now the Official Gas Voucher Calendar for August 2023: Who Will Receive It and When
The National Gas Aid is a social program administered by the federal government for people who are in a situation of social vulnerability. The purpose of the program is to provide a sum of money to help citizens buy a 13-kilo gas cylinder, the price of which has increased in recent years.
The amount is made available bimonthly, every two months. In 2023, payments were made in the months of February, April and June. Later this year, payments are expected in August, October and December. All have been confirmed, according to the Ministry of Social Development.
The reason for the blockade
The Chamber of Deputies recently approved the fiscal structure plan, a budgetary rule that will replace the current spending cap. The Federal Senate also approved the text, which will undergo further analysis in the Chamber of Deputies.
Although the text is likely to be approved this year, it is only scheduled to come into effect in 2024. All the rules of the old spending cap, which establishes a more restrictive path for public spending, will still apply in 2023. This is the reason for the scheduled freezes.
Last year, the federal government also made budget cuts to ministries in the Planalto Palace. At the time, PT politicians contested the cuts.
August Payments
Read also: Learn all about Amounts Receivable
In August, payments of the National Gas Aid should begin on the 18th. The federal government expects that just over 5 million people across the country will receive the balance in their accounts. Below, you can check the detailed payment schedule for the benefit for this month:
- Users with NIS ending in 1: August 18 (Friday);
- Users with NIS ending in 2: August 21 (Monday);
- Users with NIS ending in 3: August 22 (Tuesday);
- Users with NIS ending in 4: August 23 (Wednesday);
- Users with NIS ending in 5: August 24 (Thursday);
- Users with NIS ending in 6: August 25 (Friday);
- Users with NIS ending in 7: August 28 (Monday);
- Users with NIS ending in 8: August 29 (Tuesday);
- Users with NIS ending in 9: August 30 (Wednesday);
- Users with NIS ending in 0: August 31 (Thursday).
