Samarco Reopens Compensation Program for Mariana Victims for 45 Days

Overview

• The Programa Indenizatório Definitivo platform, which reopens Monday, May 18, will accept claims through July 1 in a 45‑day window requested by federal and state justice institutions.
• People who never applied, refused a prior offer, missed the deadline to accept, or submitted an invalid power of attorney will have their cases reactivated and receive new response timelines through their lawyers.
• The program pays R$ 35,000 in a single installment to each eligible person, with entry via the Public Defender’s Office or a private attorney, and Samarco covers 5% attorney fees without reducing the payout.
• Eligibility rules require being at least 16 on November 5, 2015, prior registration or legal action by set cutoffs, and valid ID and proof of residence in covered areas.
• Samarco reports more than 303,000 payments totaling R$ 11.2 billion by March 2026, while the MAB advocacy group argues the brief application windows exclude many families and should be revised.