Argentina SUAF child benefits lose 45% purchasing power over decade

A report from the Observatorio de la Deuda Social Argentina (ODSA) at the Universidad Católica Argentina (UCA) reveals that child benefits for registered workers (SUAF) lost 45% of their purchasing power between 2016 and September 2026. For a typical household in Greater Buenos Aires with two adults and two children, the benefit's coverage of the basic food basket fell from 40% to 20.8%.

In contrast, the Universal Child Allowance (AUH) combined with the Food Allowance (Prestación Alimentar) saw an increase in coverage, rising from 32% to 48.7% over the same period. This divergence is attributed to policy changes, including the doubling of AUH amounts in 2024 and the introduction of the Food Allowance in 2020, which provided a reinforcement that the SUAF system did not receive.

Despite monthly inflation-based updates implemented since July 2024, the SUAF has not recovered its long-term losses. The report notes that in the first quarter of 2026, 61% of households in the lowest SUAF bracket were living in poverty. Additionally, Anses announced a 1.93% increase for SUAF benefits in November 2026, based on September inflation data.