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The Citizen Income is the national conditional cash transfer program of the National Government of Colombia that replaced Solidarity Income in 2023 and that, in 2026, serves more than 1.5 million households in poverty and extreme poverty. Operated by Social Prosperity and coordinated with the targeting base of SISBEN IV, the program delivers up to $500,000 COP every 2 months to targeted households, depending on the corresponding line and household composition. This complete guide explains what Citizen Income is, how it works, how much it pays, who is eligible, how to register, how to check targeting and what to expect from bimonthly payments in 2026.
What is Citizen Income and why did it replace Solidarity Income
The Citizen Income was created by the Government of President Gustavo Petro in 2023, within the framework of the National Development Plan “Colombia World Power of Life”. The program was born with the objective of unifying several pre-existing cash transfers into a single, more structural and long-term social protection policy.
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The Solidarity Income, for its part, had been created in 2020 as an emergency transfer in response to the COVID-19 pandemic crisis. It was temporary aid, without clear coordination with other social programs and with a closing horizon. When the National Government decided to redirect social policy starting in 2023, Solidarity Income was gradually dismantled and its beneficiaries were migrated, according to profile, to the different lines of Citizen Income.
This explains why many households that received Solidarity Income stopped receiving transfers at some point in 2023-2024: it was not a capricious suspension, but the transition between programs. To reactivate benefits, those households must ensure they are correctly classified in SISBEN IV and that they meet the criteria of the corresponding Citizen Income line.
The 3 lines of Citizen Income
The Citizen Income is organized into three strategic lines, each with a different population group, amount and set of requirements:
Families in Action Line
This line is aimed at households with children and adolescents under 18 years of age in poverty or extreme poverty. It is the natural heir to the Families in Action program, which operated in Colombia for more than 20 years. The transfer is conditional on basic commitments:
- Continuous school attendance of minors of school age
- Compliance with growth and development check-ups for children under 6 years old
- Complete vaccination schedule according to age
- Keep the family unit registry in SISBEN updated
The base amount can reach up to $500,000 COP every 2 months, with additional supplements for each minor who fulfills health and education co-responsibilities.
Youth in Action Line
The Youth Line serves people between 14 and 28 years old in poverty who are studying at middle, technical, technological or higher education levels. It is the legacy of the Youth in Action program, which sought to reduce school and university dropout rates of vulnerable youth.
To maintain the transfer, beneficiaries must demonstrate permanence and academic performance. The amount can reach up to $400,000 COP per two-month period per young beneficiary, depending on educational level and SISBEN classification.
Older Adults Line (Colombia Mayor)
This line serves people over 60 years of age in poverty who do not receive old age, retirement, survivor or disability pensions. The component integrates the historic Colombia Mayor program with the new structure of Citizen Income.
The subsidy amount can reach up to $225,000 COP monthly and is paid through the authorized banking network. In small municipalities, payment may be in person at authorized locations.
SISBEN IV: the targeting base
The SISBEN IV (System for Identification of Potential Beneficiaries of Social Programs, version 4) is the tool that the National Government uses to classify Colombian households according to their level of poverty and vulnerability. It is administered by the National Planning Department (DNP) and is based on an in-person survey that is applied free of charge at the place of residence.
SISBEN IV organizes households into four main groups:
- Group A (A1-A5): households in extreme poverty. Highest priority for social programs
- Group B (B1-B7): households in moderate poverty. High priority for targeting
- Group C (C1-C18): vulnerable households, above the poverty line but below middle income
- Group D (D1-D21): households neither poor nor vulnerable
To access Citizen Income, the household must be classified in groups A or B. If the classification is C or D, the household does not qualify for the program’s cash transfers.
How to apply for or update the SISBEN IV survey
The SISBEN IV survey is requested at the SISBEN office of the municipality, generally located at the Mayor’s Office or the Planning Secretariat. The procedure is:
- Go to the SISBEN office with the head of household’s citizenship ID
- Request scheduling of the survey for your residential address
- Wait for the surveyor’s visit, with all household members present
- Answer honestly about housing, health, education, employment, income and household composition
- Wait between 4 and 8 weeks for the classification to appear on the DNP portal
The survey is free and should never be charged. If someone offers to “manage” the survey or entry to Citizen Income for money, it is a scam.
How to register for Citizen Income step by step
An important characteristic of Citizen Income is that you do not register directly: the National Government targets beneficiary households based on SISBEN IV and other administrative records. The practical process to “apply” is:
- Ensure you have SISBEN IV applied and classified (groups A or B)
- Verify that household data is updated (composition, address, income)
- Periodically check the list of targeted households on the Social Prosperity portal
- If the household appears targeted, identify the line, amount and payment method
- Claim the bimonthly transfer on the indicated date and location
How to check if your household is targeted
The consultation is free and is done on the official portal of Social Prosperity (prosperidadsocial.gov.co). The steps are:
- Enter the portal and look for the “Beneficiary consultation” or “Citizen Income” section
- Enter the ID number of the head of household
- Review the result: the system indicates if you are targeted, the corresponding line and payment method
- If targeted, note the date and place of payment
You can also consult through the Social Prosperity citizen service line, which operates during business hours Monday through Friday.
Bimonthly payment calendar 2026
The Citizen Income payments are bimonthly and are concentrated in 6 cycles during the year:
- Cycle 1: January-February
- Cycle 2: March-April
- Cycle 3: May-June
- Cycle 4: July-August
- Cycle 5: September-October
- Cycle 6: November-December
Each cycle has a detailed schedule published by Social Prosperity, which indicates dates, payment methods and municipalities. For households in large municipalities, payment is usually made via bank transfer or digital wallet. In small municipalities, there may be in-person sessions with the presence of authorized operators.
Required documents
The basic documents for the process are simple:
- Citizenship ID of the head of household
- Identity documents of all members (citizenship ID, identity card, civil registry)
- Recent utility bill as proof of residence
- EPS affiliation card
- Study certificates for school-age children (if applicable)
To claim the transfer on payment day you only need the ID of the beneficiary registered as head of household.
Differences between Citizen Income and Solidarity Income
Many Colombians continue to search for information about Solidarity Income, without knowing that it no longer exists as such. The main differences between the two programs are:
- Origin: Solidarity Income was born as an emergency response to the pandemic. Citizen Income is a structural long-term social policy
- Coverage: Solidarity Income reached about 3 million households temporarily. Citizen Income targets 1.5 million households with permanent targeting
- Amounts: Solidarity Income delivered a fixed amount. Citizen Income adjusts transfers according to line and household composition
- Conditionality: Solidarity Income was a transfer without conditions. Citizen Income requires commitments to health, education and school attendance
- Targeting base: Solidarity Income used broader criteria. Citizen Income relies strictly on SISBEN IV
Frequently asked questions about Citizen Income
Does Solidarity Income still exist?
No. Solidarity Income ended in 2023. Its function was absorbed by Citizen Income.
Can I receive Citizen Income if I work formally?
Targeting depends on SISBEN IV. Formal work does not automatically disqualify, but it does affect household classification. Check if you are in groups A or B of SISBEN.
How long does it take for the SISBEN survey to appear in the system?
Between 4 and 8 weeks on average, after the surveyor’s visit.
If I am an older adult without a pension, do I automatically qualify?
Not automatically. You must be in SISBEN IV groups A or B and be targeted in the Older Adults Line of the program.
Do you have to pay to register?
Never. Both the SISBEN survey and the targeting consultation are completely free. Any charge is a scam.
What happens if I move to another city?
You must update your address in SISBEN. Without updating, notifications and transfers may be delayed or suspended.
Can I receive Citizen Income and another subsidy simultaneously?
It depends on the subsidy. Some are compatible, others are not. Citizen Income is not compatible with all cash transfers from the National Government. Consult with Social Prosperity for specific cases.
My household has SISBEN A but does not appear targeted, what do I do?
Targeting depends on the cycle budget. If your household does not appear, keep SISBEN updated and check in the next bimonthly cycles.
This site is not an official portal. For official information, visit prosperidadsocial.gov.co