The largest income transfer program in Brazil, Bolsa Família, is now celebrating 20 years. The initiative was created on October 20, 2003, during President Lula’s first term. The program combines a set of public policies and facilitates families’ access to basic rights such as health, education, and social assistance.
The first payment of Bolsa Família benefited 1.15 million families; each received an average of R$ 73.67. In October, 21.45 million families across all 5,570 Brazilian municipalities were registered to receive the benefit.
Payments are made according to a schedule, starting on the 18th of each month and continuing until the 31st. The average payment in October was R$ 688.97.
One of the goals of Bolsa Família is to protect children and adolescents and provide assistance proportional to different family compositions. In October, the Lula government implemented an additional benefit for mothers of babies up to six months old. The additional payment corresponds to six installments of R$ 50 and aims to ensure children’s nutrition.Program Requirements
The updated guidelines include parameters defined during President Lula’s first government. The main requirement is that families seek prenatal care for their pregnant women and monitor the nutritional status of children under seven years old. Families must also update the vaccination card with all vaccines provided in Brazil’s national immunization program. Beneficiaries must ensure that children and adolescents attend school with a minimum attendance of 60% for children aged 4 to 5 years and 75% for those aged 6 to 18 years who have not completed elementary school.Source: Agência Brasil