Venezuela's Patria Benefit Payments Delayed Amid Fuel Subsidy Shortages and Protests

On July 18, 2026 the Venezuelan government’s Patria platform began disbursing the announced benefit payments for public‑sector workers and retirees. Payments were scheduled at amounts tied to the official Central Bank rate – 96,292 bolívares for active staff, 108,600 bolívares for retirees, and lower amounts for pensioners and Cestaticket holders. Recipients reported some transfers remained marked “in waiting” and did not appear in their bank accounts.

In the city of El Tigre, Anzoátegui state, drivers gathered to protest a two‑week suspension of subsidised fuel at the Venecia service station. Protesters warned the outage could lead to a shift to dollar‑priced gasoline, potentially affecting around 6,000 motorists. One driver said, “Dijeron que están haciendo un estudio de mercadeo. Si eso es así, queremos saber por qué no llega combustible aquí…”, and they called for answers from the Ministry of Hydrocarbons.