Government aid and subsidies in Colombia: a guide for your family

Cada mes acompañamos a familias que saben que el Estado tiene apoyos para ellas, pero se pierden en el laberinto: nombres que cambian, requisitos que no entienden, páginas que parecen oficiales y no lo son. Si estás en esas, respirá: lo que mucha gente busca como «ayudas del gobierno» tiene nombre, dueño y un canal oficial. Acá te ordenamos, en un solo lugar, las principales State aid and subsidies in Colombia for vulnerable families, with a clear map of where to start and who serves each one.

The idea is simple: Almost everything starts with the Sisbén (your classification determines your eligibility), from there you can access cash transfers (Citizen Income, VAT Refund, Colombia Mayor, Youth Income) and housing assistance. Finally, there's what matters most: learning how to protect yourself from scams and knowing what to do if you're rejected. Each section below links to a detailed guide, verified with official sources.

Última actualización: octubre de 2026.

¿Qué ayudas del gobierno hay en Colombia?

La respuesta corta: las ayudas del gobierno para las familias se reparten en cinco frentes. Transferencias de dinero de Prosperidad Social, apoyos de vivienda de Minvivienda y las cajas de compensación, salud gratis por el régimen subsidiado, ahorro para la vejez con BEPS y prioridades para grupos protegidos. Casi todo pasa por tu clasificación en el Sisbén, que hoy se está integrando al RUI.

Armamos la tabla de abajo a partir de lo que necesita tu casa, porque así llegan las familias a preguntarnos: nadie arranca diciendo «quiero Renta Ciudadana», arranca diciendo «no me alcanza». Cada ayuda de la tabla enlaza a una guía nuestra, revisada con la fuente oficial cuando la escribimos.

Índice de guías de Hepacom, octubre de 2026. Los montos no van acá porque cambian: quién recibe, cuánto y cuándo lo define cada entidad oficial.

Where do you start? The Sisbén is the gateway.

Before applying for any subsidy, the first thing you need to know is your Sisbén IV classification, because almost all programs use it to decide who gets in. There's no longer a "score" from 0 to 100: today the system places you in a group (A, B, C, or D). Start by understanding yours:

• The Sisbén score no longer exists: how groups A, B, C and D work
• Which Sisbén group do you need for each subsidy? (the master table)
• How to update the Sisbén survey step by step
• How to legally move up a group in the Sisbén system (without scams)
• Consulta del RUI: el Registro Universal de Ingresos que el DNP está integrando con el Sisbén, y qué pasa con tus ayudas cuando termine la transición.

With your clear group and your data up to date, you can now see what you are entitled to from the following.

What money transfers does the State provide?

These are the financial aid programs that reach the most vulnerable households on a cyclical basis. These are the main programs and who each one is for:

• Citizen's IncomeThe central program for impoverished households with children or dependents. It does not have open enrollment: the State targets beneficiaries using the Sisbén system.
• What happened to Families in Action?It was renamed Citizen's Income. If you were looking for the old name, this is your guide.
• VAT refundIt offsets part of the VAT paid by households in extreme poverty. There is no registration; it is selected automatically.
• Greater Colombia: support for elderly people without pensions and with low incomes.
• Subsidio del adulto mayor: el mapa de los apoyos para personas mayores (Colombia Mayor, programas de las alcaldías, auxilio funerario) y cómo consultar si tu familiar ya está.
• Youth in Action, now Youth Income: for young people studying higher education or further training.
• What happened to Ingreso Solidario?It was during the pandemic, it has already closed; their families were directed to Citizen's Income.

¿Qué ayudas hay para la vejez, la discapacidad y las mamás cabeza de hogar?

Son preguntas que nos llegan casi todas las semanas, y en todas pasa algo parecido: la ayuda existe, pero pocas veces es un pago mensual que llega solo.

• BEPS de Colpensiones: para quien nunca pudo cotizar a pensión. Ahorrás lo que puedas, cuando puedas, y el Estado le suma un subsidio a lo que guardaste.
• Certificado de discapacidad: por sí solo no es un subsidio, pero abre la puerta a varios beneficios. El trámite empieza en la secretaría de salud del municipio, no en la EPS, y es gratis.
• Ayudas para madres cabeza de hogar: la ley les da prioridad dentro de programas que ya están en marcha, sobre todo en vivienda. El «subsidio para madres solteras» que circula por WhatsApp no aparece en ninguna entidad.
• Comedores comunitarios: un plato caliente al mediodía para personas en pobreza o en riesgo de pasar hambre.

Si en tu casa hay una persona mayor y otra con discapacidad, revisá las dos rutas por separado. Una no reemplaza a la otra.

And what about housing support?

This is the heart of our mission as a foundation. The State and compensation funds offer support for buying or renting, although the situation changes every year:

• Requirements of Mi Casa Ya: the subsidy for the down payment of new housing (and the actual state of the program in 2026).
• Rental subsidyMonthly help to pay your rent while you save for your home.
• Subsidios de vivienda para víctimas del conflicto armado: la Ley 1448 de 2011 les da prioridad y acceso preferente en los programas de vivienda del Estado. La casa no llega sola por estar inscrito; esa prioridad hay que pedirla.

How do I know when I get paid?

None of these programs pay on a fixed day of the month: they work in cycles, and each cycle opens a window of several days. To avoid missing your date or falling for rumors, check this out:

• Subsidy payment schedule: how and when it is paid

What do I do if I'm rejected or someone tries to scam me?

This is the part that matters most to us, because this is where families lose money or lose the aid they were entitled to. Two guides worth reading even if you don't need them right now:

• Why was my grant application rejected and how to appeal (with right of petition, free of charge and within 15 business days).
• How to identify scams involving government subsidies and not lose your money or your data.

The golden rule against scams is simple: the State never charges for giving you a subsidy, and official websites end in . .gov.co. If someone asks you for money or your password to "activate" a payment, it's a lie.

How Hepacom accompanies you

At the Hechos Para la Comunidad Foundation, we work for the right to decent housing, and we know that this path almost always begins here: a family that understands what assistance they are entitled to and how to access it has a clearer mind to think about their future. We don't distribute government subsidies or replace official agencies; what we do is organize the information, explain it clearly, and support you so you don't fall for scams.

Government assistance eases the monthly burden; decent housing changes a life. That's why we connect each of these guides to our mission. If you'd like our guidance, write to us at our contact page or to the email donations@hepacom.org, and if this purpose moves you, find out how support the foundation or read more guides in the blog.

Information guide. Each procedure is handled by the official entity. Always verify through the official channel. Hepacom does not charge for registration or process payments.

Quick comparison of the main state aid programs

Before applying, it's a good idea to find out what type of household each program targets and what the common requirement is. This table is a general guide; the conditions, available slots, and amounts change every year, so always check with the official sources (Prosperidad Social, Minvivienda, and Sisbén) before starting any application process.

This is a general guide. The criteria, amounts, and quotas are defined by each official entity and may change.

Common mistakes when seeking state aid

• Pay a manager to include you: Registration for official programs is free; no one with real authority charges you to enroll.
• Believing that being in the Sisbén system means you receive everything: The Sisbén is the entry point, but each program has its own selection process and quotas.
• Use WhatsApp messages or unofficial websites as your guide: Always confirm through the channels of Prosperidad Social, Minvivienda or Sisbén.

Frequently asked questions about government aid and subsidies in Colombia

What are the main state aid programs for vulnerable families?

Social Prosperity transfers (Citizen Income, VAT Refund, Colombia Mayor, Youth Income) and housing support (Mi Casa Ya, rental subsidy). Almost all of them depend on your classification in the Sisbén IV.

Do I have to sign up to receive them?

In most cases, there is no open enrollment: the government uses the Sisbén system and other registries to target beneficiaries. What you can do is keep your Sisbén survey updated with your current situation.

How do I avoid subsidy scams?

The government never charges for providing subsidies and never asks for your bank password via WhatsApp. Official websites end in .gov.co. If you have any doubts, consult only the program's official channel.

Where can I verify the official information for each program?

On official websites: socialprosperity.gov.co para las transferencias, la DNP Social Window para tu clasificación en el Sisbén y el RUI, y minvivienda.gov.co para vivienda.

¿Las ayudas del gobierno se piden todas en una sola página?

No. Cada programa tiene su entidad y su canal: Prosperidad Social para las transferencias, el DNP para el Sisbén y el RUI, Colpensiones para BEPS, y Minvivienda o tu caja de compensación para vivienda. Desconfiá de cualquier página que prometa «todas las ayudas en un solo formulario», y mucho más si te cobra por llenarlo.