The Implementation of Emergency Aid as an exceptional measure of social protection

Abstract Emergency Aid, instituted by Law 13982, of 2020, is one of the biggest initiatives of the Brazilin Federal Government to minimize the economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. This aid is directed at the most vulnerable population, among them, the beneficiaries of the conditional cash transfer program “Bolsa Família” (PBF) and those enrolled in the single registry for social protection “Cadastro Único para Programas Sociais do Governo Federal” (CadÚnico). The benefit also covers informal employees, self-employed and individual microentrepreneurs (MEI). Based on documentary analysis and through direct observation, this study sought to outline the process of implementing emergency aid measures, within the framework established by the Ministry of Citizenship (MC), through the system-level bureaucracy approach.