From this Monday, the 31st, many São Paulo residents will be able to take their children to and from school without having to tighten their budgets. It’s all thanks to the Mamãe Tarifa Zero program, which offers free public transport for fathers and mothers with children enrolled in municipal daycare centers.
The benefit aims to make it easier for families to access public transport, especially those in situations of economic vulnerability. In addition, it is hoped that the program will encourage parents to enroll their children in the municipal network and contribute to children staying in school.
How does Mamãe Tarifa Zero work?
Despite its name, the program is not only aimed at mothers, but also at fathers or guardians of students enrolled in public kindergartens in the city of São Paulo.
The gratuity will work through the Special Mamãe Tarifa Zero Single Ticket, a card that will only work for the journey between home and the daycare center, with no detours. The mother or guardian can use it without the child, but only at pre-established times during the school term.
The first copy of the card will be free. Beneficiaries will have two quotas of free journeys per day, to and from school, with each quota allowing up to four boardings in a two-hour period.
Who can apply for Mamãe Tarifa Zero?
Firstly, the benefit will apply to children up to four years old, who must be enrolled in a municipal nursery school more than 1.5 kilometers from their home.
In addition, the mother or guardian must be registered in the Unified Registry for Social Programs (CadÚnico) and not have another free benefit. Thus, people over the age of 60, users of the Single Ticket for People with Disabilities or Free School Transport are not entitled to the Mamãe Tarifa Zero.
Applicants can check whether they are entitled to the benefit on this website.
How do I apply?
Has the Mamãe Tarifa Zero page confirmed that you are entitled to the benefit? From there, you can apply for the free fare via the website itself, providing some details about yourself and your child.
If you are responsible for more than one student, there are two possibilities. One Special Mamãe Tarifa Zero Single Ticket per child, if they study at different nurseries; or just one card in the name of the youngest child, if they study at the same place.
Once the application has been validated, the Single Ticket will be sent to the applicant’s home within 10 days! Finally, if the child’s enrolment is canceled or if they drop out of school, the card will be automatically canceled.
