Bolsa Família 2026 Payment Calendar: Official Schedule Released by Brazilian Government

Bolsa Família 2026 payment calendar has been officially announced by Brazil’s Ministry of Social Development, confirming that monthly deposits will continue using the staggered payment system based on the final digit of the Social Identification Number (NIS).

Understanding when your payment arrives is crucial for millions of Brazilian families who depend on this federal cash transfer program as their primary source of income.

In this comprehensive guide, you’ll discover the complete Bolsa Família 2026 payment schedule, learn how the NIS-based payment system works, understand the monthly payment dates from January through December, and get answers to common questions about Brazil’s largest social welfare program.

Whether you’re a current beneficiary, family member helping relatives understand the system, or researcher studying Brazilian social programs, this article provides everything you need to know about the 2026 payment calendar.

Official Announcement: Bolsa Família 2026 Payment Calendar

The Ministry of Social Development and Social Assistance, Family and Fight Against Hunger (MDS) officially announced the Bolsa Família payment calendar for 2026 on December 23, 2025. The announcement confirms that the program will maintain its established payment model, ensuring organization, security, and regularity in benefit access for families experiencing social vulnerability throughout Brazil.

Payments will follow the staggered model based on the final digit of the Social Identification Number (NIS), occurring during the last ten business days of each month. This system has proven effective in preventing bank overload and ensuring smooth distribution of benefits to over 21 million Brazilian families.

How the NIS-Based Payment System Works

Understanding Your NIS Number

The NIS (Número de Identificação Social) is your Social Identification Number, a unique identifier assigned to every Bolsa Família beneficiary. This number appears on your Bolsa Família card and determines exactly when you’ll receive your monthly payment.

Payment Order by NIS Final Digit

Families with NIS ending in 1 can access their benefits on the first payment day, those with NIS ending in 2 receive on the second day of the calendar, and so on, continuing in sequential order through business days until reaching beneficiaries whose NIS ends in zero.

Payment Sequence:

• NIS ending in 1: First payment day
• NIS ending in 2: Second payment day
• NIS ending in 3: Third payment day
• NIS ending in 4: Fourth payment day
• NIS ending in 5: Fifth payment day
• NIS ending in 6: Sixth payment day
• NIS ending in 7: Seventh payment day
• NIS ending in 8: Eighth payment day
• NIS ending in 9: Ninth payment day
• NIS ending in 0: Final payment day

Why the Staggered Payment System?

The Brazilian government implements this staggered schedule for several critical reasons:

Prevents Bank System Overload: If 21 million families received payments simultaneously, it would overwhelm Caixa Econômica Federal’s banking infrastructure

Better Cash Flow Management: Distributing payments across multiple days maintains system stability and liquidity

Predictability for Families: Knowing your exact payment date enables better household budget planning

Reduces Queue Times: Spreading withdrawals across ten days minimizes wait times at ATMs and lottery outlets

Emergency Response Flexibility: In municipalities with federal recognition of emergency or public calamity situations, the calendar is unified to the first payment day

Complete Bolsa Família 2026 Payment Calendar

January 2026 Payment Dates

The first payment of 2026 occurs between January 19 and January 30, following the NIS-based staggered schedule.

January 2026 Schedule:

• January 19 (Monday): NIS final digit 1
• January 20 (Tuesday): NIS final digit 2
• January 21 (Wednesday): NIS final digit 3
• January 22 (Thursday): NIS final digit 4
• January 23 (Friday): NIS final digit 5
• January 26 (Monday): NIS final digit 6
• January 27 (Tuesday): NIS final digit 7
• January 28 (Wednesday): NIS final digit 8
• January 29 (Thursday): NIS final digit 9
• January 30 (Friday): NIS final digit 0

February 2026 Payment Dates

February 2026 Schedule:

• February 12 (Thursday): NIS final digit 1
• February 13 (Friday): NIS final digit 2
• February 16 (Monday): NIS final digit 3
• February 17 (Tuesday): NIS final digit 4
• February 18 (Wednesday): NIS final digit 5
• February 19 (Thursday): NIS final digit 6
• February 20 (Friday): NIS final digit 7
• February 23 (Monday): NIS final digit 8
• February 24 (Tuesday): NIS final digit 9
• February 27 (Friday): NIS final digit 0

March 2026 Payment Dates

March 2026 Schedule:

• March 18 (Wednesday): NIS final digit 1
• March 19 (Thursday): NIS final digit 2
• March 20 (Friday): NIS final digit 3
• March 23 (Monday): NIS final digit 4
• March 24 (Tuesday): NIS final digit 5
• March 25 (Wednesday): NIS final digit 6
• March 26 (Thursday): NIS final digit 7
• March 27 (Friday): NIS final digit 8
• March 30 (Monday): NIS final digit 9
• March 31 (Tuesday): NIS final digit 0

April 2026 Payment Dates

April 2026 Schedule:

• April 16 (Thursday): NIS final digit 1
• April 17 (Friday): NIS final digit 2
• April 20 (Monday): NIS final digit 3
• April 22 (Wednesday): NIS final digit 4
• April 23 (Thursday): NIS final digit 5
• April 24 (Friday): NIS final digit 6
• April 27 (Monday): NIS final digit 7
• April 28 (Tuesday): NIS final digit 8
• April 29 (Wednesday): NIS final digit 9
• April 30 (Thursday): NIS final digit 0

May 2026 Payment Dates

May 2026 Schedule:

• May 18 (Monday): NIS final digit 1
• May 19 (Tuesday): NIS final digit 2
• May 20 (Wednesday): NIS final digit 3
• May 21 (Thursday): NIS final digit 4
• May 22 (Friday): NIS final digit 5
• May 25 (Monday): NIS final digit 6
• May 26 (Tuesday): NIS final digit 7
• May 27 (Wednesday): NIS final digit 8
• May 28 (Thursday): NIS final digit 9
• May 29 (Friday): NIS final digit 0

June 2026 Payment Dates

June 2026 Schedule:

• June 17 (Wednesday): NIS final digit 1
• June 18 (Thursday): NIS final digit 2
• June 19 (Friday): NIS final digit 3
• June 22 (Monday): NIS final digit 4
• June 23 (Tuesday): NIS final digit 5
• June 24 (Wednesday): NIS final digit 6
• June 25 (Thursday): NIS final digit 7
• June 26 (Friday): NIS final digit 8
• June 29 (Monday): NIS final digit 9
• June 30 (Tuesday): NIS final digit 0

July 2026 Payment Dates

July 2026 Schedule:

• July 20 (Monday): NIS final digit 1
• July 21 (Tuesday): NIS final digit 2
• July 22 (Wednesday): NIS final digit 3
• July 23 (Thursday): NIS final digit 4
• July 24 (Friday): NIS final digit 5
• July 27 (Monday): NIS final digit 6
• July 28 (Tuesday): NIS final digit 7
• July 29 (Wednesday): NIS final digit 8
• July 30 (Thursday): NIS final digit 9
• July 31 (Friday): NIS final digit 0

August 2026 Payment Dates

August 2026 Schedule:

• August 18 (Tuesday): NIS final digit 1
• August 19 (Wednesday): NIS final digit 2
• August 20 (Thursday): NIS final digit 3
• August 21 (Friday): NIS final digit 4
• August 24 (Monday): NIS final digit 5
• August 25 (Tuesday): NIS final digit 6
• August 26 (Wednesday): NIS final digit 7
• August 27 (Thursday): NIS final digit 8
• August 28 (Friday): NIS final digit 9
• August 31 (Monday): NIS final digit 0

September 2026 Payment Dates

September 2026 Schedule:

• September 17 (Thursday): NIS final digit 1
• September 18 (Friday): NIS final digit 2
• September 21 (Monday): NIS final digit 3
• September 22 (Tuesday): NIS final digit 4
• September 23 (Wednesday): NIS final digit 5
• September 24 (Thursday): NIS final digit 6
• September 25 (Friday): NIS final digit 7
• September 28 (Monday): NIS final digit 8
• September 29 (Tuesday): NIS final digit 9
• September 30 (Wednesday): NIS final digit 0

October 2026 Payment Dates

October 2026 Schedule:

• October 19 (Monday): NIS final digit 1
• October 20 (Tuesday): NIS final digit 2
• October 21 (Wednesday): NIS final digit 3
• October 22 (Thursday): NIS final digit 4
• October 23 (Friday): NIS final digit 5
• October 26 (Monday): NIS final digit 6
• October 27 (Tuesday): NIS final digit 7
• October 28 (Wednesday): NIS final digit 8
• October 29 (Thursday): NIS final digit 9
• October 30 (Friday): NIS final digit 0

November 2026 Payment Dates

November 2026 Schedule:

• November 16 (Monday): NIS final digit 1
• November 17 (Tuesday): NIS final digit 2
• November 18 (Wednesday): NIS final digit 3
• November 19 (Thursday): NIS final digit 4
• November 23 (Monday): NIS final digit 5
• November 24 (Tuesday): NIS final digit 6
• November 25 (Wednesday): NIS final digit 7
• November 26 (Thursday): NIS final digit 8
• November 27 (Friday): NIS final digit 9
• November 30 (Monday): NIS final digit 0

December 2026 Payment Dates (Anticipated Schedule)

December is an exception, with the benefit advanced so families can receive it before Christmas.

December 2026 Schedule (Advanced):

• December 10 (Thursday): NIS final digit 1
• December 11 (Friday): NIS final digit 2
• December 14 (Monday): NIS final digit 3
• December 15 (Tuesday): NIS final digit 4
• December 16 (Wednesday): NIS final digit 5
• December 17 (Thursday): NIS final digit 6
• December 18 (Friday): NIS final digit 7
• December 21 (Monday): NIS final digit 8
• December 22 (Tuesday): NIS final digit 9
• December 23 (Wednesday): NIS final digit 0

Bolsa Família 2026 Benefit Amounts

Minimum Payment Amount

The minimum amount transferred by Bolsa Família is R$600 per household.

Additional Benefits

Family Variable Benefit (BVF): Guarantees R$50 for pregnant women, children and adolescents aged 7 to 18 years (incomplete), and nursing mothers responsible for feeding babies up to six months old.

Early Childhood Benefit (BPI): An additional R$150 per child under six years old (incomplete).

Total Possible Payment

Depending on family composition, households can receive significantly more than the R$600 minimum when additional benefits apply. For example:

• Family with 2 children under 6: R$600 + R$300 (BPI) = R$900
• Family with 1 child under 6 and 2 adolescents: R$600 + R$150 (BPI) + R$100 (BVF) = R$850

Eligibility Requirements for Bolsa Família 2026

Income Requirements

To be eligible for Bolsa Família, the “monthly income per person” of the family cannot exceed R$218.00. For example, for a family of five people to enter the program, the family income must be at most R$1,090.00 (R$218 per person).

Registration Requirement

Families must be registered in Cadastro Único (CadÚnico), Brazil’s unified registry for social programs.

Conditional Requirements

To continue receiving Bolsa Família, families must meet program conditionalities, including school attendance for children and adolescents and health monitoring of pregnant women, children, and nursing mothers, according to the Unified Health System (SUS) guidelines.

Education Conditionalities:

• Children aged 6-15: Minimum 85% school attendance
• Adolescents aged 16-17: Minimum 75% school attendance

Health Conditionalities:

• Prenatal care for pregnant women
• Vaccination schedule compliance for children
• Nutritional monitoring for children under 7
• Health checkups for children

How to Access Your Bolsa Família Payment

Finding Your NIS Number

Your NIS is printed on your Bolsa Família card. You can also find it through:

• Bolsa Família mobile app
• Caixa Tem app
• Official CadÚnico website
• CRAS (Social Assistance Reference Center)

Payment Methods

Bolsa Família amounts can be accessed through the Caixa Tem app, used with the card for debit purchases, or withdrawn at self-service terminals, lottery houses, and Caixa Aqui correspondents.

Withdrawal Options: ✅ Caixa Tem digital app ✅ Physical Bolsa Família card ✅ ATMs (Caixa Econômica Federal) ✅ Lottery outlets (Lotéricas) ✅ Caixa Aqui agents ✅ Caixa bank branches

Important: 120-Day Expiration

Payments not withdrawn within 120 days (approximately 4 months) expire and return to the federal government. Always withdraw your benefit promptly.

Maintaining Your Bolsa Família Benefits

Keep CadÚnico Updated

The government emphasizes the importance of keeping the CadÚnico (Unified Registry) updated to continue having access to Bolsa Família. The family head must go to a social assistance service center, such as the Social Assistance Reference Center (CRAS), or CadÚnico service center, to update registration information.

Update Requirements

When to Update:

• Every 2 years (mandatory biennial update)
• When family composition changes
• When income changes
• When address changes
• When requested by authorities

Where to Update:

• CRAS (Centro de Referência de Assistência Social)
• Municipal social assistance offices
• CadÚnico service points

Documents Needed:

• CPF for all family members
• Identity documents (RG)
• Proof of address
• Birth certificates for children
• Income documentation (if employed)
• School enrollment certificates

Meeting Conditionalities

Monitoring conditionalities acts as an instrument to strengthen access to basic rights of health, education, and social assistance, reinforcing the importance of this access for breaking the intergenerational cycle of poverty reproduction.

Families failing to meet education or health requirements receive warnings before facing benefit suspension or cancellation.

Emergency and Special Situations

Natural Disasters and Emergencies

In municipalities with federal government recognition of emergency or public calamity situations, the calendar is unified to the first payment day. This ensures affected families receive immediate financial support during crises.

Emergency Situations Include:

• Floods
• Droughts
• Landslides
• Natural disasters
• Public health emergencies

Advanced Payments

In officially declared emergencies, all beneficiaries in affected municipalities receive payments on the first day of the calendar, regardless of their NIS final digit.

Contact Information and Support

Official Support Channels

MDS Citizen Service – Disque Social: The MDS provides Disque Social 121, a citizen service channel, for questions related to the Program

Caixa Service Center: It’s also possible to contact Caixa’s service channel through number 111

Mobile Apps: There are also Bolsa Família and Caixa apps, available for free download in virtual stores

Support Options Summary

📱 Apps:

• Bolsa Família official app
• Caixa Tem app
• CadÚnico app

☎️ Phone Numbers:

• 121: MDS Citizen Service
• 111: Caixa Service Center

🌐 Websites:

• www.gov.br/mds (Ministry website)
• www.caixa.gov.br (Caixa Econômica Federal)

📍 In-Person:

• CRAS centers
• Caixa bank branches
• Municipal social assistance offices

Important Reminders for 2026

Mark Your Calendar

Knowing your exact payment date based on your NIS final digit allows better financial planning. Create reminders on your phone or calendar for your specific payment day each month.

Withdraw Promptly

Always withdraw your benefit within the 120-day window to avoid losing access to the funds.

Keep Documents Current

Maintain updated registration in CadÚnico to prevent benefit interruption.

Meet Conditionalities

Ensure children attend school regularly and family members complete required health checkups.

Report Changes

Notify authorities of any changes in family composition, income, or address within 30 days.

Beware of Scams

The government will never ask for payment to provide benefits or request passwords and personal information by phone or email.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I check my payment online?

Yes, use the Bolsa Família app or Caixa Tem app to check your payment status, amount, and date.

What if my payment doesn’t arrive on my scheduled day?

Contact 121 (MDS) or 111 (Caixa) immediately. Delays can occur due to registration issues, conditionality non-compliance, or technical problems.

Can I change my NIS number?

No, your NIS is permanent and cannot be changed. It stays with you throughout your participation in social programs.

What if I lose my Bolsa Família card?

Request a replacement card at any Caixa branch. You can still access payments through the Caixa Tem app while waiting for a new card.

Do I need to reapply each year?

No, but you must update your CadÚnico registration every 2 years and whenever significant changes occur.

Can I receive Bolsa Família and work?

Yes, you can work while receiving benefits as long as your per capita family income remains below R$218.

What happens during holidays?

If your payment date falls on a holiday, it’s typically advanced to the previous business day. Check official channels for confirmation.

Impact and Importance of Bolsa Família

Supporting 50 Million Brazilians

Bolsa Família currently supports over 50 million Brazilians across 21 million families, making it the largest conditional cash transfer program in the world.

Breaking Poverty Cycles

The program’s conditionalities ensure children receive education and healthcare, breaking intergenerational poverty cycles.

Economic Stimulus

The R$600 minimum payment provides crucial purchasing power in local economies, particularly in smaller municipalities and rural areas.

Social Protection

As Brazil’s primary social safety net, Bolsa Família provides essential support during economic downturns, natural disasters, and personal crises.

Conclusion

Bolsa Família 2026 payment calendar maintains the proven staggered payment system that has successfully served millions of Brazilian families. With payments occurring during the last ten business days of each month (except December’s advanced schedule), beneficiaries can plan their household budgets effectively by knowing their exact payment date based on their NIS final digit.

Understanding your payment schedule, maintaining updated registration, meeting program conditionalities, and using official support channels ensures continuous access to this vital benefit. Whether you receive R$600 minimum or additional amounts for children and special situations, Bolsa Família remains a crucial pillar of Brazil’s social protection system.

Save this calendar, mark your payment dates, and stay informed through official channels to make the most of your Bolsa Família benefits throughout 2026!