This study presents a critical reflection about Social Assistance policy, based on considerations about funds allocated to this policy in the federal budget highlighting the years of 2005, a landmark for the establishment of the Single Social Assistance System (SUAS) and 2013, the last year for which data are available. Data from the General Controllers Office were used to obtain indicators of federal government investments in the field. The amounts were adjusted for inflation using the General Price Index, Internal Availability, provided by the Fundação Getúlio Vargas (IGP-DI/FGV). Finally, the study shows the current trends in social assistance programs, indicating the prevalence of income transfer programs to fight extreme poverty in a large context of state commitment to financial capital.
Social Assistance; Income Transfer Programs; Federal Budget