Bolsa Família: Ministry wants better communication.

Heloisa Cristaldo
Reporter from Agência Brasil

Brasilia – The Ministry of Social Development released a note today (17) informing that beneficiaries of the Bolsa Família Program must update their cell phone number in the Single Registry (CadÚnico). The measure, according to the ministry, aims to alert families quickly and directly about updating their registration, vaccination and compliance with school attendance.

According to the ministry, the cell phones of all municipal managers in the program will also be updated, "which will allow for quick communication on weekends, if necessary."

The announcement, intended to improve direct communication with program beneficiaries, was made five days after the Federal Police concluded that the rumors about the end of Bolsa Família originated spontaneously. In May, rumors about the program's end led to a rush of beneficiaries to Caixa Econômica Federal bank branches to withdraw their benefits. On the weekend of the 18th and 19th alone, the bank registered 920 withdrawals by beneficiaries.

"The events that occurred provide lessons and reveal the need to further improve the management and monitoring mechanisms of the program, as well as to enhance and streamline communication with beneficiaries and managers through cell phones, text messages, social networks, and other mechanisms for easy and rapid dissemination of information," the ministry said in a statement.

Bolsa Família benefits will start being paid tomorrow (18) and withdrawals can be made according to the payment schedule, which follows the last number of the beneficiary's card.

Edited by: Juliana Andrade