TCU changes rule on irregular use of CPF (Brazilian taxpayer ID) of Bolsa Família beneficiaries.

The Plenary of the Federal Court of Accounts changed a determination on investigating the misuse of CPF numbers of beneficiaries of the Bolsa Família Program. The change occurred in the ordinary session of April 22, chaired by Minister Vital do Rêgo, and the publication took place in the Official Gazette of the Union this Monday (4).

The ministers partially accepted a request for reconsideration against a previous decision by the same court, submitted by the Ministry of Social Development and Fight against Hunger (MDS). The vote was unanimous.

The modification addressed an appeal based on article 48 of Law 8.443/1992. This provision deals with the appeals available against decisions of the TCU (Brazilian Federal Court of Accounts). The rapporteur of the process presented the reasons that justified the change.

The decision modified sub-item 9.3.2 of Ruling 2.528/2025-TCU-Plenary. The new wording establishes: “to investigate and address cases of improper use of CPF numbers (Brazilian taxpayer identification numbers) of beneficiaries of the Bolsa Família Program by third parties within the scope of their administrative competencies, especially when associated with gambling, forwarding the identified cases to the competent bodies for investigation of any potential criminal offenses”.

Attorney General Cristina Machado da Costa e Silva represented the Public Prosecutor's Office at the session. The secretary of the sessions was AUFC Lorena Medeiros Bastos Correa. The sub-secretary of the Plenary was AUFC Denise Loiane Cunha Fonseca.

The court will notify the appellant of the ruling. The Ministry of Finance, the Central Bank, and the Attorney General's Office will also be notified. These bodies must observe the modified ruling in their administrative actions on the matter.