Over 43 million Brazilians escape poverty with help from social assistance program

More than 43 million Brazilians, comprising 18.52 million families, have risen above the poverty line in June due to an increase in per capita income, according to the Brazilian government.

The Ministry of Development and Social Assistance, Family and Fight against Hunger (MDS) attributes this positive outcome to the relaunch of the Bolsa Familia social assistance program in March.

The Bolsa Familia program has been instrumental in helping over 20 percent of the Brazilian population move out of poverty last month, with a monthly income surpassing 218 reais (US$45) per capita.

To achieve this, the federal government introduced several adjustments to the program.

In March, it reintroduced Bolsa Familia with a minimum value of R$600 (US$125), and an additional R$150 (US$31) was provided for children up to the age of 6.

By June, variable benefits of 50 reais (US$10.3) were granted to pregnant women, children, and adolescents between 7 and 18 years old.

Additionally, the minimum per capita value of the program was raised to 142 reais ($29.5).

The reformulation of the program resulted in the highest average payment in Bolsa Familia’s history, amounting to 705.4 reais (US$146.4).

The Ministry of Development and Social Assistance, Family and Fight against Hunger expressed that the relaunched Bolsa Familia played a significant role in lifting the income of the most vulnerable population above the poverty line.

Among the states, Bahia had the highest number of households surpassing the income line in June, with 2.26 million families.

São Paulo followed closely with 2.25 million families, while Rio de Janeiro, Pernambuco, and Minas Gerais had 1.63 million, 1.48 million, and 1.38 million families respectively, leaving poverty behind.