Brazil boosts Bolsa Familia payouts by 15% ahead of October vote
Planning Minister Bruno Moretti announced a 15% rise in Bolsa Familia cash transfers, increasing the minimum benefit to 691 reais as President Lula seeks re-election.
Brazil's Planning Minister Bruno Moretti revealed a 15% increase in the Bolsa Familia program, lifting the basic monthly payment to 691 reais from the previous 600 reais. The adjustment is projected to cost 5.8 billion reais in 2026 and rise to 22 billion reais in 2027. Finance Minister Dario Durigan stressed that the extra outlay will be absorbed within current budget allocations, keeping the country's fiscal plan on track.
Eligibility remains limited to households with a per-capita income of up to 218 reais, covering millions of low-income families. The policy shift occurs as President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva campaigns for a second term, with opinion polls indicating a close contest against right-wing Senator Flavio Bolsonaro.
Why it matters
The benefit hike could sway low-income voters in Brazil's pivotal October election.
How this story developed
- Sep 3 Supreme Court justice who jailed Bolsonaro faces resignation calls over banker ties
- Sep 3 President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva is conducting a highly restrained re-election drive amid a tightening poll margin against Senator Flávio Bolsonaro.
- Sep 5 Attorney General Paulo Gonet filed two petitions to dismiss investigations that name him.
- Sep 9 Chief Justice Edson Fachin ordered the attorney general to weigh in on the accusations against Justice Alexandre de Moraes.
- Sep 11 Chief Justice Edson Fachin ordered the unsealing of thousands of pages from the Banco Master fraud investigation, prompting a full-court hearing.
- Sep 11 Supreme Court orders release of thousands of pages in the Banco Master fraud investigation.
- Sep 13 A new poll released in early September records Bolsonaro at 46% and Lula at 45% in a hypothetical runoff.
- Sep 15 The Supreme Court scheduled an extraordinary session to consider a probe of Justice Alexandre de Moraes.
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