Benefício de prestação continuada para pessoas com deficiência: evolução dos recursos gastos nas regiões do Brasil

Abstract

This study analyzed the evolution of expenditures on the Continuous Cash Benefit (BPC) for people with disabilities (PwDs) from 2003 to the end of 2023, considering Brazil’s five geographic regions. The main objective was to examine how resources allocated to this group have behaved over time. To achieve this, three specific goals were established: to identify the total number of beneficiaries in each region, to calculate the percentage of PwDs in relation to the total number of beneficiaries, and to observe variations in the amount of resources paid to the group during the studied period. To achieve the proposed objectives, the research followed a quantitative, descriptive and documentary approach, using data already available on the Ministry of Social Development portal. This data was organized in spreadsheets and analyzed with the help of the statistical program R Studio. The results showed that people with disabilities make up the majority of BPC recipients, although in recent years the number of benefits granted to older adults has grown at an even higher rate. Among the regions, the Northeast concentrated the highest number of beneficiaries and received the largest share of resources, followed by the Southeast. A decline in the number of benefits granted to PwDs between 2019 and 2022 was also observed across all regions. The study concluded that, despite fluctuations over the years, BPC expenditures for people with disabilities continued to grow, indicating not only an expansion in access to the benefit but also the persistence of regional inequalities. The prominence of the Northeast, which received a significant portion of the resources, highlights an ongoing scenario of vulnerability that still needs to be addressed. This increase in spending underscores the importance of public policies aimed at promoting better living conditions and opportunities, especially in regions that are more dependent on the benefit.