The Senate Finance Committee approved this Thursday afternoon the project of a new Middle Class Bond and a solidarity loan, whose text in general will be seen in the Chamber of the Upper House in the special session this Sunday at 10:00.

The text in general had 4 photos in favor and the abstention of Senator Carlos Montes, who indicated that “as the project is, they remain empty, but I recognize that progress has been made in this debate, the question is, what about reality? That is why I abstain ”.

The project was approved in the Commission, after a week marked by different discussions, on expanding the coverage of the aid and eliminating requirements, to facilitate access.

Despite the agreements, Senators Ximena Rincón, Carlos Montes and Ricardo Lagos Weber insisted that progress must be made in order to make this bond effective for the months of May and June. In another order, they regretted that no further progress was made in the administrative claim system for those families or people who are left out.

What did the Finance Commission approve?

1. Increase in coverage from 60% to the most vulnerable 80%, with this, the beneficiaries, which were initially 6.6 million people, are expanded to 10 million 405 thousand people.

2. The benefit of pensioners for old age and disability under the modality of life annuity is included, a bonus of $ 100,000 to pensioners for old age or disability in programmed retirement modality with pensions equal to or greater than a basic solidarity pension and less than 408,125.

3. Provides a $ 100,000 bonus to old-age and disability pensioners from the old system with pensions of less than $ 408,125.

4. Modify the comparison basis for the drop in income. The initial project established it in two months (December and January), but the average of 6 months of the year 2019 with the same 6 months of the year 2020 (second semester) will be used.

5. Increase the bonus for carriers from $ 350,000 to $ 500,000, in such a way as to leave it on equal terms with the base bonus established by this law.

6. Grants up to $ 50,000 per member for households mostly in Phase 3 or Phase 4 that have a Family Subsidy (SUF) or user of the Seguridades y Oportunidades Subsystem (SSyOO). In this case the payment will be automatic.

7. The coverage of the Emergency Family Income (IFE) increases from 60% to 80% of socioeconomic vulnerability according to the Social Household Registry for all those households that have been in Phase 1 and Phase 2.

8. Establishes additional simplification and exceptional increase in Emergency Family Income (IFE) payments for April 2021.

9. Grants the Family Emergency Income (IFE) for those who are in Phase 1 and Phase 2, regardless of the days elapsed. In addition, they will be entitled to $ 100,000 per family member, decreasing from member 5 to 10.

10. Delivers extraordinary contribution to the culture and arts sector through an additional US $ 10 million to the US $ 16 million available to help the sector, which will be through an allocation line that would allow the delivery of subsidies direct.