( Spanish) — The entity in charge of managing the resources of the Citizen Income in Colombia, Social Prosperity, announced this Thursday that the first payment will be made on April 29 for the people of Bogotá and nearby municipalities.
When can the first payment be claimed?
The Citizen Income program is the new bet of the Colombian Government for economic assistance to low-income families in the country. It consists of providing a monthly income to families in poverty and helping to cover their basic needs.
During a press conference broadcast by the social networks of Social Prosperitythe general director of the entity, Cielo Rusinque, confirmed that the first payment of the subsidy will be made on Saturday, April 29.
The day will consist of an educational session by the President of Colombia, Gustavo Petro, in which doubts regarding the program will be resolved. That same day, the first payments will be made to registered and eligible families in Bogotá and neighboring municipalities. To enter the event, program families must check in on the Social Prosperity website.
The payment dates for the rest of the country are expected to be confirmed next week, said the director of Social Prosperity.
The Agrarian Bank will make the payments
Rusinque also pointed out that the person in charge of delivering the aid is the Banco Agrario, adding that it was chosen because it reaches the entire country, including townships and indigenous councils. In addition, it was the bank that gave a better offer for commissions.
People who have an account with Banco Agrario can make the withdrawal directly with their card; those who do not have an account there must request a personal code with which they would claim the subsidy, said the director of Social Prosperity.
The Citizen Income program will deliver payments every two months to qualifying households, with a maximum limit of 500,000 pesos (approximately US$110), depending on their case. Priority is currently being given to 466 municipalities due to the precarious situation in which they live and to the mothers who are heads of households.
Requirements to apply for the subsidy
The aid program is aimed at the most needy households in Colombia, including those in extreme poverty and socioeconomic vulnerability, according to Sisbén IV (the System for the Identification of Potential Beneficiaries of Social Programs). So people who enter any of the Sisbén groups will be able to access financial aid:
- Group A for households in extreme poverty
- Group B for households with moderate poverty
- Group C for those with vulnerability
- Group D for households that are neither poor nor vulnerable.
Rusinque explained that those who have not reached check in in the program they will be able to do so in mid-June when registrations open again.
