Brazil Government Confirms Two More Instalment Payments of Emergency Aid

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – On Tuesday afternoon, June 30th, the Jair Bolsonaro government confirmed the payment of two additional installments of the R$600 (US$120) emergency aid. For mothers in charge of their families, the amount is R$1,200.

The benefit, paid during the coronavirus pandemic, was established by Congress in March, and sanctioned by the president on April 2nd. Initially, three monthly installments would be paid, but after pressure, the government decided to extend the benefit.

“In line with the National Congress’ instruction that we could, by Executive Branch decision, extend the three installments of the emergency aid. This is what the President is currently doing to ensure this benefit for another two months,” said Minister of Citizenship Onyx Lorenzoni in a ceremony in Brasília.

Last week, together with the Minister of Economy, Paulo Guedes, Bolsonaro discussed the possibility of making three additional installments of the benefit, amounting to R$500, R$400, and R$300, which failed to gain traction. The next two installments should amount to R$600.

According to Lorenzoni, the benefit reaches 65 million Brazilians, including the unemployed, casual workers, private contributors to the INSS (social security system), people enrolled in the CadÚnico (Unified Registry), and recipients of the Bolsa Família (Family Grant).

The Caixa Econômica Federal (Federal Savings Bank), which disburses the amounts, received over 100 million applications; about three out of ten were denied, but there are still citizens waiting to be paid the first installment.

According to the law, anyone who meets the following requirements is eligible to receive the aid, cumulatively:

• Is over 18 years old (except mothers);
• No formal employment;
• Does not benefit from welfare or INSS benefits, does not receive unemployment insurance or is part of any other government cash transfer program, with the exception of Bolsa Família;
• Has family income, per person, up to half a minimum wage, which equates to R$522.50 today, or monthly family income of up to three minimum wages (R$3,135);
  In 2018, he/she must have received taxable income below R$28,559.70.

The future beneficiary will still have to meet at least one of the following prerequisites:

• To be unemployed;
• Exercise an activity as an MEI (individual microentrepreneur);
• To be an individual or optional Welfare contributor, under the simplified plan or the five percent plan;
• Work as a casual employee, be unemployed, self-employed or intermittent, enrolled in the CadÚnico before March 20th this year, or submitting self-declaration to the government.

Source: Folhapress