In Brazil, there are two mechanisms for protecting the elderly, the “Estatuto do Idoso” (Statute of the Elderly) and the “Política Nacional de Saúde do Idoso” (National Health Policy for the Elderly). The elderly must not suffer discrimination of any kind and they must be supported by their children in their old age. The elderly have the right to:
- Receive comprehensive health care through the public health network
- Receive treatment and be provided with prostheses, wheel chairs, glasses, hearing aids etc
- Receive priority treatment in public and private facilities
To report any form of violence against the elderly, contact the Human Rights Violations Hotline 100.
MOPS – open access portal that gathers and organizes information on the availability of services, public facilities and social programs identified in municipalities, microregions and states in the country.
👵🏿👴 I am over 60 years old. What kind of assistance can the government, UNHCR and its partners give me? 👵🏿👴
Established by the 1988 Federal Constitution, the government programme Benefit of Continuous Benefit Payment (BPC) ensures the transfer of one (1) minimum wage per month for an elderly who is 65 (sixty-five) years or older, who proves not to have the means to support himself or herself and/or to be sustained by the family. This programme is individual, not lifelong nor transferable.
To be entitled to the benefit, the applicant must prove that the family’s monthly income per capita is less than one-fourth (¼) of the minimum wage. The law determines that the benefit must go through an evaluation every two (2) years. Persons with disabilities must also go through a social and medical evaluation, which will be held by professionals of the National Institute of Social Security (INSS).
According to a court decision issued on May 26th by the Federal Regional Court of the 3rd Region, documents from refugees and migrants must be accepted by the National Social Security Institute(INSS) for applications for the Continuous Benefit Payment (BPC). Although this is a preliminary injunction, the decision has immediate effect nationwide and overcomes the recent obstacle of requiring submission of Brazilian documents.
Refugees and migrants who wish to apply for the BPC and/or continue to face difficulties when applying for the BPC should inform UNHCR and/or directly seek legal assistance with the Public Defender’s Office (DPU).