Investment in Brazil’s Bolsa Família reaches record high in March – and its highest average value in history

The first month of the new Bolsa Família [or Family Grant] payment schedule has arrived with two unprecedented milestones in the history of Brazilian income transfer programs. In March 2023, 21.1 million families – from 5,570 Brazilian municipalities – are going to receive an average BRL 670.33, the highest Bolsa Família value ever. In February, it was BRL 606.91. Moreover, the more than BRL 14 billion that were invested are a program monthly record.

In its new version, Bolsa Família ensures a minimum BRL 600 transfer to each benefited family. The main novelty is the Benefício Primeiro Infância [First Childhood Benefit], which also ensures an additional BRL 150 to each 0-6 year old child in the family. In Brazil, there are 8.9 million boys and girls in this age group – which means a BRL 1.3 billion investment by the Brazilian government. The March database also reveals that 17.2 million households are female-headed: 81.2%.

It’s going to help a lot, because I know I won’t have to go to sleep full of worries anymore, never knowing how to pay the drugstore or how to buy something the girls’ve asked me for. This is what Bolsa Família means to me. Taking care of the children is my priority.
Ana Cláudia das Neves, Bolsa Família beneficiary in Foz do Iguaçu (PR)

"I can buy food and medicine for the boys with this. Bolsa Familia is the only fixed income I have. I make do with odd jobs, usually washing other people’s clothes at home when I get the chance", says unemployed single mother of four Maria José Silva de Freitas, 41, who has lived in Brazil's Federal District for over two decades.

Maria José’s youngest daughter Gabriele is 3 years old and suffers from anemia. Maria José says the monthly increase in Bolsa Família – from BRL 600 to BRL 750 – will be a great help. "She’s been taking medicine since last year. We eat whatever we can. There’s no choosing. It’s really hard. At the health center they told me to feed her vegetables and fruit, but I can’t always do that. This increase is going to help a lot. I can now buy her medicine straight away, without always having to look for someone to help me", she says.

In the state of Paraná, housewife Ana Cláudia das Neves, 48, also belongs to this group. She has to manage her budget to support the four children who live with her – and her husband – in a simple house on the outskirts of the city of Foz do Iguaçu. The family’s main income is from a Brazilian Social Security (Instituto Nacional do Seguro Social/INSS) benefit for a son who has a mental disorder, and the Bolsa Família money – which they spend mostly on their two daughters, aged one and four.

The children – who were adopted from a drug-dependent niece – both need medical care. The oldest was premature, is autistic and doesn’t speak. The baby suffers from bronchiolitis. The family budget isn’t enough to take care of everyone. There’s always a BRL 200, BRL 300 debt at the drugstore. The prospect of having another BRL 300 in the family budget is already allowing Ana Cláudia to plan paying off her debt to the drugstore and buying other things the children need.

"It’s going to help a lot, because I know I won’t have to go to sleep full of worries anymore, never knowing how to pay the drugstore or how to buy something the girls’ve asked me for. This is what Bolsa Família means to me. Taking care of the children is my priority". If there’s any money left, she says, she intends to improve their diet.

PAYMENT IN STAGES — As usual with Bolsa Família, payment will occur in stages. The schedule begins today, March 20, for beneficiaries with a Social Registration Number (Número de Inscrição Social/NIS) ending in 1. Transfers continue until March 31. As of June, investments will increase, and families will be even more protected, receiving an additional BRL 50 for each member of the family between the ages of seven and 18, and for each pregnant woman.

More than an income transfer program, however, Bolsa Família is an important tool in the Brazilian government’s strategy to reduce poverty, combat hunger and promote education and health. Thus, the program once again emphasizes strategic conditionalities – such as children and adolescents from beneficiary families having to go to school; prenatal care for pregnant women; and keeping an up-to-date vaccination schedule booklet reefrring to the Brazilian Ministry of Health’s National Immunization Program (Programa Nacional de Imunizações).

STATES AND REGIONS — The states of Bahia, São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro are the ones with the highest number of Bolsa Família beneficiaries in March. In Bahia, 2.56 million families are benefited – across 417 municipalities – from a BRL 1.6 billion investment. In São Paulo, there are 2.55 million beneficiaries in 645 municipalities, facing a BRL 1.7 billion government investment. In Rio, there are 1.8 million families in 92 municipalities, from a BRL 1.2 billion investment.

In terms of regions, Brazil’s Northeast concentrates the largest number of beneficiaries in the country: more than 9.73 million families. Over BRL 6.3 billion are for paying beneficiaries from the 1,794 municipalities in the region. Of this amount, BRL 537 million are for the early childhood benefit Benefício Primeiro Infância. On average, each family in the Northeast receives BRL 662.63.

The second region with the highest number of beneficiaries is the Southeast, where over 6.31 million families will be benefited, in March, with an average BRL 669.77. In all, BRL 4.2 billion will be transferred to homes in 1,668 municipalities, of which BRL 403.24 million will be spent on Benefício Primeiro Infância.

The North harbors 2.59 million families across 450 municipalities. The average value of the benefit is BRL 685.97; over BRL 1.7 billion will be transferred. The Benefício Primeiro Infância accounts for BRL 187.35 million of this total.

In the South, more than 1.41 million families – across 1,191 municipalities – are going to receive an average BRL 682.91. The transfer is of BRL 962.39 million, of which BRL 109.40 million are for Benefício Primeiro Infância.

In the Midwest, 1.13 million families are covered in 467 municipalities. The average benefit is the highest in the country: BRL 688.73. More than BRL 776.25 million will be transferred, with BRL 93.98 million earmarked for Benefício Primeiro Infância.

Benefited families by state

WHO IS ELIGIBLE? — Bolsa Família is for families who are facing economic and social vulnerability. To qualify, they must meet eligibility criteria – such as income classified as referring to poverty or extreme poverty. With the new legislation, families with an income of up to BRL 218 per person now have access to the program. Families’ data must be up-to-date in the Cadastro Único (Brazil’s Single Registration number); selection considers the estimated poverty, the number of families benefited in each municipality, and the budget limit.

REGISTRATION — Registration can be carried out at any municipal registration office or social assistance service. If you have any questions concerning Bolsa Família, please read this Q & A about the program.