Social welfare updates: Gas subsidies in Argentina and water subsidy declines in Peru

In Argentina, the Secretariat of Energy has established new requirements for the gas cylinder subsidy, which replaces the former Plan Hogar. Eligible households can receive a reimbursement of $9,593 per 10-kilogram cylinder through virtual wallets like BNA+ or MODO. To qualify, monthly family income must generally not exceed $4,303,392, though exceptions exist for individuals with disability certificates, war veteran pensions, or specific housing certificates. The subsidy is not automatic for former Plan Hogar beneficiaries and must be requested via the ReSEF website. Reimbursement limits are set by season: two units per month during the winter period (April to September) and one unit per month during the summer period (October to March).

In Peru, data from Sedapar indicates that approximately 9,000 households in Arequipa have lost access to the Focused Cross Subsidy (SCF) for water services since 2021. The number of domestic users receiving reduced water tariffs dropped from 81,765 in November 2021 to 72,806 in August 2026, representing an 11% decrease. The SCF, regulated by Sunass, is designed to provide lower rates for households in poverty or extreme poverty. In Arequipa Metropolitana, the subsidy reduces the monthly cost for consuming up to 10 cubic meters of water from 40.30 soles to 21.55 soles. Eligibility is determined using poverty maps from INEI and socioeconomic data from the Ministry of Development and Social Inclusion.