Brazil updates CadÚnico regulations and initiates massive registry review

Brazil is implementing new regulations and a large-scale qualification process for the Cadastro Único (CadÚnico) social registry. Normative Instruction 23/2026, published in the Official Gazette, establishes new technical guidelines that distinguish between 'home visits'—an interpersonal tool for social assistance—and 'home registration,' which is a protocol-based data collection method using specific questionnaires.

The National Confederation of Municipalities (CNM) has noted the operational and financial impacts these changes may have on municipal routines, emphasizing that home registration should ideally occur within the family residence, though it can be conducted in external areas if entry is not permitted.

Simultaneously, the Ministry of Development and Social Assistance has included over 11 million families in a 2026 registry review process. Failure to update information within established deadlines may lead to the suspension of benefits, specifically impacting the Benefício de Prestação Continuada (BPC) received by elderly individuals and people with disabilities. Maintaining updated data is essential to ensure the continuity of these payments.