Desafios envolvidos no acesso ao benefício de prestação continuada por pessoas idosas da Zona Noroeste do município de Santos/SP

Abstract

Introduction: The Continuous Benefit Payment (BPC) provides the amount of one minimum wage per month to individuals with disabilities or elderly individuals aged 65 or over who demonstrate that they do not have the means to provide for themselves or have it provided by family members. The benefit application process involves the Social Assistance Reference Center (CRAS), as it is the gateway to the social assistance network in municipalities. Considering that there are difficulties in seeking and understanding the BPC, and that it is a benefit intended for individuals in situations of social vulnerability, this study aimed to identify the main challenges faced by elderly individuals eligible for the BPC in seeking and accessing information about the benefit. It also described the social, cognitive, and emotional factors that influenced their search, to relate these factors to the delay in initiating the application process. Methods: This is exploratory, quantitative, and cross-sectional research, which included an updated documentary survey on the topic and field research. Twenty-five elderly individuals eligible for BPC from the CRAS (National Health Assistance Program) located in the Northwest Zone of the municipality of Santos, São Paulo, participated in the study. Participants were divided into two groups: 1) those who sought the benefit within three months (TERM Group, n=13) and 2) those who took more than three months (LATE Group, n=12). Data collection was carried out through the application of the following questionnaires: i) Social Support Scale; ii) Sociodemographic Questionnaire; iii) Addenbrooke's Cognitive Examination – Revised Version; iv) Pennsylvania State Worry Questionnaire; v) Brunel Mood Scale; vi) Ruminative Response Scale; vii) Health Status Questionnaire. These instruments aimed to identify emotional, social, cognitive, and information access factors and their relationship with difficulties in seeking BPC. Results: The sample had a mean age of 65 years, a low education level, and overall cognitive performance below the cutoff point, with greater preservation in language and lower performance in memory tasks. The majority (82%) reported difficulties in accessing the benefit, mainly related to information and bureaucracy. The LATE Group was older than the TERM Group (67 [66–71] vs. 65 [65–65]; P=0.01). In the Affective domain of Social Support, the LATE Group had a lower score when compared to the TERM Group (9 [4–12] vs. 12 [12–12]; P=0.05). Regarding mood, the LATE Group had lower levels of fatigue, anger, and tension. High levels of worry and rumination were also observed in the sample. Conclusion: The evidence observed in the present study suggests that older age, emotional variables, and social support influence the time to seek the benefit, highlighting the need for strategies that facilitate the elderly's access to the BPC. However, further studies are needed in different regions and CRAS units to broaden the understanding of the factors associated with access to BPC, both in the municipality of Santos/SP and in other sociocultural contexts.