Rules prohibit that more than 1 of the same family receive the benefit; A city says that there was a failure in the IBGE census, which denies
In 10 Brazilian cities, there are more people in the From what households, it indicates crossing public data available in January 2025. The rules of the social program see that the same family receives twice the benefit. Experts evaluate that there is a sign of concession to people who do not meet specifications.
The program is granted to the head of the household, who can be male or female. Thus, only one person can be the starter of the benefit. There are unusual cases, where more than one family lives at the same address.
This data obtained by the report of the Poder360 It is public. It can be verified by the president’s government at any time. There is a high possibility of fraud in these cities with more beneficiaries than houses. The statistics shown in this report also reveals that the initiative announced about 2 years ago by the Federal Administration has been ineffective to do a comb in the main Brazilian social program.
The most dramatic situation is in Serrano do Maranhão (MA), in the interior of the state. There are 3,953 houses, according to the (Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics), and 5,041 families in Bolsa Familia (127.5% of total households), according to the .
The mayor of the city, (PL), says there was an error in the 2022 census: “The amount of households is incorrect”. Serrano prosecutor, Romulo Emanuel da Silva, said that the village of Santa Filomena, where 200 people live, was mistakenly considered as part of the city of Santa Helena. In the village of Boa Esperança, with 800 people, there was no visit of censuses, according to Silva.
Asked by e-mail and telephone, IBGE said censorships visited the two areas and that the quilombola community Santa Filomena is in the neighboring municipality. Here Institute’s response (PDF – 4 MB).
They show that Serrano has a small urban area. There are branches in rural areas that make it difficult to count households. There has been no significant expansion of these areas in recent years, according to the .
The 2nd worst situation is in São Paulo de Olivença (AM), with 7,722 families in Bolsa Familia and 6,845 houses. THE Poder360 sought the mayor (União Brasil) by email and by WhatsApp. There was no answer. The space remains open to manifestation.
In Autazes (AM), there are 16,457 holders of Bolsa Familia. It is 6% more than the 15,544 households. The mayor, (PP), has been in office since the beginning of 2025. Social Assistance Secretary Izoney Tomé said he did not know why Bolsa Família beneficiaries is higher than households. “I cannot give opinion“, These.
O Poder360 He sought by telephone and email the municipalities of the other 7 cities that have more Bolsa Familia holders than home. There was no answer. The space remains open to manifestation.
The coordinator of Bolsa Familia in the government of Amazonas, Ana Cláudia Rocha, said she was unaware of the number of households in each city of the state. Therefore, he stated that he could not evaluate the relationship of this data with the numbers of beneficiaries of each city.
The Ministry of Social Development declared to the Poder360 That population advancement from the last census in 2022 may explain discrepancies. He stated that the eligibility of families is based on the Single Registry, updated more often.
“While the census mapping the households, the Single Registry identifies the profile of families and their living conditions. In this sense, it is possible to state that, in some situations, more than one family can reside in the same home, especially in greater vulnerable locations, which is classified in the Single Registry as ‘living families’ ”says the government. Read to (PDF – 53 KB).
Economist Carla Beni, a professor at (Getulio Vargas Foundation), said that the existence of more families than households in a city is an indication of irregularity. “It can be fraud”he declared. She stated that it is necessary to do a rigorous investigation in these places.
Beni stated that the existence of more than 80% household household households in a city should be a reason for investigation. There are 70 cities with more than 80% of households receiving Bolsa Familia in the 5,570 localities of the country.
“Some cities are very dependent on Bolsa Familia. But there is a multiplier effect of the program. There are people who are entrepreneurs in commerce, employees, employees of public services”Said the FGV teacher. She is a counselor of Corecon (Regional Council of Economics) of São Paulo.
In Brazil, 807 cities have at least 50% of homes with some beneficiary of Bolsa Familia.
Dependence on Home Program is significantly higher in northern and northeastern cities, poorer regions.
The program was called Brazil from November 2021 until March 2023, under the government of (PL). It had the rules for registration of families facilitated because of the pandemic – it was impossible for some records to be made in person. Increased granting benefits on the eve of the 2022 election.
The Ministry of Social Development stated that a “Registration verification has been performed routinely since 2023” to identify fraud and possible deviations in the program. According to the government, “Studies are being conducted to improve the process from 2025”.
New measures should become routine, such as declared income conference, data update every 24 months and death registration conference.
“O MDS [Ministério do Desenvolvimento Social] It reinforces that it also has inspection and continuous enhancement mechanisms of social programs. One of these tools is the Federal Bolsa Familia and Single Registry Inspection Network, created in June 2023. This network aims to propose measures to improve the quality of information, the inspection of CadÚnico and PBF management, and prevent fraud ”says the organ.
