Many uncertainties still surround the emergency aid, and after this new round of payments ends, rumors are spreading that it may be extended for another 3 installments.
Amid the enormous uncertainty of the Brazilian pandemic and the end of emergency assistance, many citizens were left wondering how to survive at the beginning of this year. For President Jair Bolsonaro (without political parties), the idea of expanding interests is not at all appealing, as he believes that the emergency plan caused a debt of 700 billion reais in 2020.
It is a financial benefit granted by the federal government to informal workers, individual micro-entrepreneurs (MEI), self-employed individuals, and the unemployed, and aims to provide emergency protection during the crisis caused by the new coronavirus pandemic.
It is not yet known whether, after this new round of payments, the emergency aid will actually be extended or cut off altogether.
In addition to last year's public debt, one of the great advantages of hindering new expansions is finding resources to release funds for them. According to the newspaper Correio Braziliense, Senator Alessandro Vieira, representing the Citizenship movement, filed a request for a private summons, which circulated in the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate.
One of the main requirements of the document is to broaden the scope of public disaster response by updating emergency services.
Furthermore, two other bills are expected, which advocate for the reinstatement of emergency assistance and even require additional payments to the most vulnerable citizens.
New Bill Project
Currently, there are two bills gaining public support that call for expanding the scope of emergency care. The first is Bill 5495/20, authored by Senators Alessandro Vieira (Cidadania-SE) and Esperidião Amin (PP-SC).
According to information from Law No. 5,495/20, the idea is that the payment period for public calamities and emergency assistance could last until March 31st, extending the benefit period by three months. The second bill to be approved is Bill 5,494/20, authored by Senators Rogério Carvalho (PT-SE) and Paulo Rocha (PT-PA). According to the text, the proposal suggests special social protection measures to be taken during the economic recovery from the economic crisis caused by the pandemic, and requires the repayment of 600 reais in the first half of this year.
The project is somewhat similar to emergency assistance, in that the measure also targets low-income beneficiaries, limiting it to two members per family unit.
As stated in the summary, the main objective is to establish special social protection measures to be implemented during the pandemic period, when the economy is poised for recovery.
The parliamentarian explained: “In the event of an expansion of international health emergencies, the National Assembly must approve protective measures. This could happen any day.”.
Emergency aid 2021
Baleia Rossi, a candidate for vice-president of the Chamber of Deputies, also advocated for the return of emergency aid or an increase in the amount paid by Bolsa Família in 2021.
In the press conference where Rossi announced his candidacy for president, the congressman also demanded that “we need to find a solution. Either we increase family subsidies or we seek emergency assistance again for the most vulnerable groups.”.
Looking to the future, we need to design plans for our country.
To get the economy developing again, our goal is the same: to create job and income opportunities, reduce inequality, reduce unemployment, and allow disadvantaged groups to have a better place in our country.
Opportunities for life. That's why it's important to re-examine our agenda with fiscal responsibility.
Concerns surrounding emergency aid
The end of emergency aid payments is worrying not only the citizens who receive the benefits, but also the entire business sector. The consumption situation of people who lost an average income of 250 reais and started receiving 600 reais will no longer exist.
In general, mainstream industries will feel better. Therefore, the social consequences of ending emergency assistance will be devastating.
How will the payments for the new emergency aid be made?
CAIXA's digital savings account can be used through the CAIXA Tem app. For Bolsa Família recipients, in addition to requesting benefit payments through CAIXA Tem, they can also use their Bolsa Família card or citizenship card to withdraw funds at ATMs and lottery outlets.
See some tips:
Check if your emergency aid benefit has been approved:
Dataprev cross-references the data of individuals registered in the beneficiary group with the standards of the new program. Citizens can check the processing results at auxilio.caixa.gov.br or by calling 111.
The beneficiary's experience with CAIXA Tem throughout 2020 shows that it is important to avoid lines at branches, since the payment is entirely digital, through applications that users are already familiar with.
In parallel, CAIXA is expanding its workforce and outsourced staff to strengthen the bank's service network, especially in branches where the largest number of beneficiaries of emergency services are concentrated. 7,704 new positions were added, including 2,766 employees, 1,162 interns, 2,320 security guards, and 1,456 receptionists.
It should be noted that the bank is a benchmark in the area of health prevention: it serves its employees, collaborators, and clients through rigorous prevention programs and the acquisition of personal protective equipment (PPE), which goes beyond the guidelines of the Ministry of Health.