BC data shows that the income commitment of families with debt reached 29.3% in January
The Lula government outlines a plan that aims to provide a guarantee from the Union for debt renegotiation, aiming to reduce family debt. Among the ideas being evaluated is the use of money forgotten by account holders in the financial systemcurrently at R$10.5 billion, according to data from the Central Bank’s Receivables System. BC data show that the income commitment of families with debt reached 29.3% in January. The mark, also reached in October 2025, is the highest in the historical series started in 2011 by the monetary authority.
This Tuesday (07), ministers held a meeting with Lula about the general lines of the program, which should serve people in default, especially those with low income, and individuals whose bills are up to date, but who have a high level of income commitment, said one of the sources. Despite the meeting and evaluations, there is still no final decision made on this or another type of contribution to the fund.
According to sources, the The program should be announced this week and will also have a specific axis for resolving debts of micro, small and medium-sized companies. To enable a reduction in interest charged by financial institutions, the government must make a contribution to the Operations Guarantee Fund (FGO), created during the pandemic and which currently does not have sufficient resources to support the program. This transfer to the fund would have an impact on the Union’s fiscal results.
The Lula government had already implemented another debt renegotiation program between 2023 and 2024, the Desenrola, which renegotiated R$53 billion in debts of approximately 15 million people and involved the disbursement of R$1.7 billion from the Union in guarantees. However, population debt data continued to rise amid credit stimulus initiatives and high interest rates.
The government’s intention with the launch of the new program is to improve the number with an eye on re-election in October. The president is facing difficulties in popularity polls despite a scenario with inflation and unemployment at historically low levels, and has placed debt as a central problem to be tackled.
Government wants to restrict bets
Bets have been identified as one of the causes of increased family debt. Therefore, the government’s idea is to propose a restriction on games for those who enter into the renegotiation promoted by the government. “We have been discussing a lot about having a counterpart in which we limit the subsequent indebtedness of these people, for example, with bets, with digital bets, so that we don’t let people off the hook, don’t let people down and, in the next act, people go back into debt”, he said.
According to a source interviewed, the possibility of releasing FGTS resources to workers who want to use the money to pay off debts has also been evaluated, but there is no definition of the measure so far.
After the meeting with Lula, the Minister of Finance, Dario Durigan, confirmed this Tuesday afternoon that the plan must include more than one discounted renegotiation front to serve individuals and companies and that there must be a counterpart for those who join the program, specifically citing the possible restriction on bets.
Using FGTS to pay off debts
The team economic evaluates allowing the use from the Service Time Guarantee Fund (FGTS) to debt settlementas part of a new credit package being developed. According to the minister, the proposal is under joint discussion with the Ministry of Labor and Employmentled by Luiz Marinho, who shows concern about possible impacts on the fund.
and there is no definition of the measurement format. “If we think it is reasonable for debt financing, this will be admitted,” he said, after meeting with PT parliamentarians in the Chamber.
*Reuters
