Tarjeta Uruguay Social (Social Uruguay Card)
Basic Information
Country
Geographic area
Institutions and agencies involved
Programme type
Programme Details
Programme objectives
Its main objective is to enable the most disadvantaged to access to the products of the basic basket, so that they purchase food and other products to satisfy their basic needs according to their household`s features. After the PANES emergency programme was terminated, the Food Card programme has become part of the Equity Plan. Since June 2009, its coverage has been extended because there are new beneficiaries that used to receive the Social Risk basket of INDA. Since 2012, trans people (transsexuals, transvestites or transgender) were incorporated to the programme without exception.
Programme components
i) Tarjeta Uruguay Social;
ii) Iron-Fortified Milk (Leche Más Fortificada con Hierro).
Previous programme name (if any)
Tarjeta Alimentaria (Food Card)
Conditionalities (if any)
i) Tarjeta Uruguay Social: Feeding: The card is allowed only to buy food, toiletries and cleaning products. Sanctions:The commercialization of explicitly prohibited items (tobacco, cigarettes, alcoholic beverages and soft drinks) will determine temporary or permanent suspension of the card holder and the trade involved.
Coverage
11.40% of the population (2017)
Programme expenditure
0.15% of the GDP (2017).
Source of funding: Government of Uruguay
Targeting and eligiblity
Targeting methods
Proxy Means Test
Categorical Targeting
Target groups
Families in extreme poverty and trans persons (transsexual, transvestite and transgender)
Eligibility criteria
Instrument of selection: Critical Deficiency Index (ICC), which is calculated from the information of the program entry form, which is in the Integrated Social Information System (SIIAS).
i) Tarjeta Uruguay Social: Intended for households in extreme poverty and those households beneficiaries of PANES that had members under 18 or pregnant women. Also directed to transsexuals, transvestites and transgender persons.
ii) Iron-Fortified Milk (Leche Más Fortificada con Hierro): Households with children between 0 and 3 years old and/or pregnant women.
Eligibility reassessment (if any)
Exit strategies or criteria: Households exit the program either because of an improvement in the household situation that is observed in a new visit and a new ICC that does not reach the establish threshold, or because the household voluntarily exits the program. On the other hand, if the card is not used for more than four months, the benefit is suspended until there is a claim by the beneficiary.
Coverage and other information
Type of benefits
Cash; Delivery of fortified powdered milk with iron (Leche Más);
Amount of benefits
Tarjeta Uruguay Social: Minimum $992 (2018). The purchasing limit of each card must meet certain requirements, such as 10 liters of milk, up to 25% purchase in cleaning supplies and personal hygiene and 75% minimum for food.
Payment/delivery frequency
Benefit delivery mechanism
Monitoring and evaluation mechanisms and frequency
Registry of recipients: Administrative records of the Social Uruguay Card program, incorporated in the Integrated Social Information System (SIIAS).
Legal Framework
Law 18227
