Chile begins payments for teacher historical debt benefit

The General Treasury of the Republic has begun distributing the first installment of the “historical debt” benefit to a second group of 6,300 teachers in Chile. This payment process, scheduled between October 19 and October 23, is mandated by Law No. 21.728, enacted in 2025.

The law provides economic compensation to educators affected by the transfer of public education to municipalities during the 1980s. Each beneficiary is set to receive a total of $4,500,000 (adjusted for inflation), split into two installments. While the first payment is being processed now, the second installment is scheduled for January 2027.

In the Los Ríos region alone, 145 teachers are receiving this benefit. Nationally, the highest concentrations of beneficiaries are located in the Metropolitan, Valparaíso, Biobío, Los Lagos, and La Araucanía regions. Payments are made via bank accounts registered through the official Ministry of Education platform, though those without registered accounts may collect funds at Banco Estado branches.