In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, the National Executive Office (Poder Ejecutivo Nacional – PEN) created, by Decree 310/2020, the Emergency Family Income (Ingreso Familiar de Emergencia − IFE), a non-contributory benefit of an exceptional nature. The recipients are households composed of casual workers, unemployed people, workers in private homes and those taxed under the regime for small taxpayers from the lowest categories.
At the time of the application, one had to be aged between 18 and 65, meet certain citizenship and/or legal residence conditions in the country, and not receive income for work in a dependent relationship, retirement schemes, or pensions, among others. It is compatible with the Universal Child Allowance (Asignación Universal por Hijo – AUH) and Pregnant Women Allowance for Social Protection (Asignación por Embarazo – AxE) and other benefits. The amount of IFE is 10,000 Argentinian pesos (ARS) (59.3 per cent of the minimum wage in force). It was paid for the first time in March and April 2020. Decree 511/2020 awarded a second payment in June and July for the same people who were covered by the first payment. Argentina’s National Social Security Administration (Administración Nacional de la Seguridad Social – ANSES) is responsible for paying IFE.