A person sitting in a damaged house with a phone can apply within minutes.
Workers in disaster-affected areas can now withdraw up to R$ 6,220 from FGTS accounts via mobile app, with initial eligibility in Amazonas and Pará municipalities. The digital process requires valid ID, proof of residence, and CPF; applications accepted until September 1, 2026 for currently enabled cities.
- Up to R$ 6,220 per FGTS account available starting June 4, 2026
- Fonte Boa (Amazonas) and Prainha (Pará) are the first enabled municipalities
- Applications accepted through September 1, 2026 for currently enabled cities
- Process is entirely digital via FGTS mobile app; no branch visit required
Brazil's FGTS calamity withdrawal program launches June 4, 2026, allowing disaster-affected workers to request up to R$ 6,220 directly through the mobile app without visiting agencies.
Starting Thursday, June 4th, workers across Brazil who have lost homes or livelihoods to natural disasters can now tap their FGTS accounts—the country's worker severance fund—for emergency relief. The amount available is up to R$ 6,220 per account, and the entire process happens through a smartphone app, no visit to a bank branch required.
The Calamidade withdrawal exists precisely for moments like these: when floods sweep through neighborhoods, when hillsides collapse onto houses, when storms destroy what families have built. The program recognizes that official declarations of emergency or public calamity trigger a real need, and the FGTS—money that has accumulated in workers' accounts over years of employment—becomes a lifeline. A worker must have an active or inactive FGTS account and live in a municipality that has been officially certified as disaster-affected by Caixa Econômica Federal, the state bank administering the fund.
On this first day, two municipalities are enabled: Fonte Boa in Amazonas and Prainha in Pará, both in the north. Applications for these cities will be accepted through September 1st. The list will grow as other regions experience recognized disasters—and given Brazil's vulnerability to flooding, landslides, and severe weather, more municipalities will almost certainly be added. The government has shown flexibility here: normally there is a 12-month waiting period between successive withdrawals, but in exceptional cases—as happened with Rio Grande do Sul municipalities after the 2024 floods—that requirement can be waived.
The application process is straightforward by design. Workers open the FGTS app, navigate to "Other Withdrawal Situations," select "Public Calamity," and follow the prompts. They enter their municipality name, residential address, and choose how to receive the money: direct deposit to any bank account or in-person withdrawal. Then they upload the required documents: a valid photo ID, proof of residence (a utility bill, bank statement, or lease agreement issued within 120 days before the disaster was declared), and their CPF number. If they lack a recent proof of residence, a municipal declaration stating they live in the affected area will suffice. If the proof of residence is in a spouse's or partner's name, they need to provide a marriage certificate or civil union documentation. The app handles everything digitally; nothing needs to be printed or carried to a branch.
Caixa will review each application and, if everything is in order, deposit the funds into the account the worker specified. The bank emphasizes that incomplete or false information will slow the process—a reminder that this is still a formal financial transaction, not a handout. For those who prefer in-person assistance or have questions, Caixa operates two phone lines: 4004-0104 for people in state capitals and metropolitan areas, and 0800-104-0104 for everyone else. Staff can clarify which documents are needed, explain the steps, confirm deadlines, and track the status of a pending request.
What makes this program significant is not just the money—R$ 6,220 is substantial but not unlimited—but the recognition embedded in it. When a municipality is officially declared disaster-affected, the government is saying: we see what happened to you, we understand your home or workplace was damaged, and we are making it easier for you to access funds that are already yours. The digital-only option removes a barrier that might otherwise keep people away: no need to take time off work, no need to travel to a bank during a period when transportation itself may be disrupted. A person sitting in a damaged house with a phone can apply within minutes.
Citações Notáveis
The digital process facilitates and accelerates access to FGTS in moments of need.— Caixa Econômica Federal (paraphrased from source)
A Conversa do Hearth Outra perspectiva sobre a história
Why does this program exist at all? Couldn't people just withdraw their FGTS money whenever they want?
No—FGTS is meant to be long-term security. You can only touch it in specific situations: retirement, buying a home, serious illness, unemployment. A natural disaster is one of those situations because it's a genuine emergency that wasn't your fault.
So the R$ 6,220 limit—is that the same for everyone?
It's a cap per account. If your balance is smaller, you get what you have. If it's larger, you can only take R$ 6,220. The idea is to give people enough to stabilize themselves without draining the entire fund.
The app process sounds simple, but what if someone doesn't have a smartphone or internet?
That's a real gap. The app is the primary channel, but you can also go to a Caixa branch in person. You'd bring physical documents instead of uploading them. It's slower, but it's an option.
Why are only two municipalities enabled right now?
Those are the ones with officially recognized disasters as of today. As other regions experience floods or landslides and the government declares them calamities, more municipalities get added to the list. It's reactive, not proactive.
The 12-month waiting period between withdrawals—why does that exist?
To prevent people from treating FGTS like a regular savings account they can raid repeatedly. But the government can override it in extreme situations, like when Rio Grande do Sul had back-to-back flooding.
What happens if someone submits false information?
The application gets delayed while Caixa investigates. If fraud is confirmed, there could be legal consequences. The system relies on honesty because it's meant for people who genuinely lost their homes.