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Brazil to Launch 'Gás do Povo' on Monday, Delivering Free 13-kg Refills to 1 Million Families

The initiative replaces cash stipends with traceable vouchers managed by Caixa to curb fraud.

Overview

  • The first phase covers ten capitals: Belém, Belo Horizonte, Fortaleza, Goiânia, Natal, Porto Alegre, Recife, Salvador, São Paulo and Teresina.
  • Eligibility is determined via CadÚnico with records updated within 24 months and per capita income up to half the minimum wage, with Bolsa Família recipients prioritized by the MDS.
  • Beneficiaries will redeem refills at accredited retailers using a Bolsa Família card, a Caixa debit card or a CPF validated by an SMS code.
  • Caixa Econômica Federal will issue the vouchers, credential participating resellers and verify beneficiaries’ access to the benefit.
  • The government targets expansion to 15 million families by March 2026, framing the program as a response to energy poverty and related health risks.