Via Folha de Pernambuco: Um salário mínimo para bebês microcéfalos.[A minimum income for microcephalic babies] Look for the appalling throwaway line in the second paragraph. Edited excerpt from the Google translation:
The agencies of the National Institute of Social Security (INSS) should receive in the coming weeks a flurry of requests for the Continuous Cash Benefit (BPC) for babies with microcephaly. Worth a minimum wage (R $880)[U$216], the payment is already supplied to around 4 million people who are over 65 or have a disability, provided they meet the requirements. The main one is household income per capita (per person) of up to R $220[US$54].
The federal budget for payment of the benefit this year was R $48.3 billion[US$11.8 billion]. That amount should increase as the Ministry of Health reported 4100 newborns with malformation. The number is expected to reach 16,000 by December, according to estimates from Fiocruz. The INSS should set up a task force to to expedite the assessment of cases of children with malformation.
The possibility of receiving a minimum salary encourages some families in Pernambuco. In three-month-old Gabriel's house, who lives in Gloria do Goitá in North Forest, 75 km from Recife, the money would come in handy to support the trips needed to the capital—up to three times a week—and also in buying food. His mother Ana Julia Silva, 17, has missed two consultations about her son this week in Recife lack of money for the tickets. "We spend too much. I have no income. His father's not around and money, it was not so much, became even shorter," she said.
In similar situation is Rosilene Ferreira, 39, mother of three-month-old Arthur. She lives in Ibura and must take six vehicles a day to take the boy for therapy and consultations. "I earn R $650 reais[US$159] per month to keep the house, my 16-year-old son and now Arthur. That money would come in handy. At that moment my main expense is transportation. But I do not know what the future will be," she said. Rosilene also expressed concern about her current job, since she needs to ask permission to accompany the child for treatments.
"My fear is getting fired and being left with no income," she said.
