SOCIAL SECURITY
Rural retirement coverage by the Social Securit Systen constitutes a true minimum income program, since benefits are granted without the corresponding social security contribution payment. From 1994 to 1998, the amount of rural retirement practically doubled, currently reaching R$ 10 billion and benefiting more than 6 million people.
Between 1995 and 1998, the average amount of benefits increased by 25%, which equals a growth of more than 7.5% a year, despite a small reduction of 2% in 1998.
This reduction is a result of the high growth in the number of rural retirement beneficiaries, which have a lower average value compared to urban retirement coverage.
In 1998, almost 850 senior and disabled citizens received one minimum wage per month. The resources involved in the payment of that benefit exceeded R$ 1.13 billion, a sum corresponding to 6.6 times the amount spent with the same type of benefit in 1996.