Brazil's Bolsa Família to require biannual CadÚnico updates, risking benefit suspensions in 2026

The federal government announced that, starting in 2026, families receiving Bolsa Família must update their CadÚnico registration every 24 months and undergo mandatory home interviews for single‑person households. Failure to meet these requirements could lead to suspension of payments, a move aimed at reducing fraud and ensuring resources reach vulnerable families.

In June, the program’s regular payments began on 17 May, with deposits staggered according to the final digit of each family's NIS number and continuing through 30 May. Around 18 million families benefit from Bolsa Família, and residents of municipalities declared in emergency or calamity receive their transfers earlier. Payments can be accessed via the Caixa Tem app, ATMs, lottery outlets, or Caixa branches, and biometric‑registered users may withdraw cash without a physical card.