Requirements for Colombia Mayor: who receives the 230,000 pesos

Last updated: September 2026.

Doña Rosa is 71 years old, never contributed to a pension, and lives by doing odd jobs in a neighborhood of Itagüí. When she was told about the government transfer program for senior citizens, she said, "That's not for me," and wasted three years without registering. We see this mistake every week: families who don't know about the requirements of Colombia Mayor, Or they hear it from a fixer who charges for something that's free. Here's what the official agency requires, how much is being paid, and what's being delivered this month, with the source next to it.

What are the requirements for registering with Colombia Mayor?

Prosperidad Social requires four conditions at once: being Colombian, having resided in the country for the last ten years, being at least three years younger than the retirement age —today 54 years for women and 59 for men—and lack sufficient income or resources to subsist. Targeting is done using the Sisbén IV system: those who qualify are eligible. all levels of groups A and B, and group C up to subgroup C1.

Pay attention to the age requirement, because many people are unnecessarily excluded: you don't have to wait until retirement age, you can apply three years earlier. And check the Sisbén (a Colombian social welfare program), which is the filter that rejects most applications: if your relative is in category C2 or higher, they won't qualify due to the targeted approach, and the solution is to request an updated survey at the mayor's office. We explain this in our guide on [the relevant section]. Sisbén groups for subsidies.

One detail that almost no one mentions: fulfilling the requirements gets you registered, but the process only changes when the municipality releases a spot. Confusing these two things is behind most of the complaints we receive.

How much is the Colombia Mayor subsidy today?

The entity reports in its 2026 cycle communications that older people receive a basic income of 230,000 pesos per cycle. That is the current amount, and it's important to be clear about it before believing anyone who offers to "manage" a different figure.

We need to be honest with you here, because even the official website is confusing: the program's page still describes the old scheme, with 80,000 pesos for those under 80 and 225,000 for those over 80. That scheme was superseded by the Dignity for Older Adults strategy, which first increased the amount for people aged 70 and 80, and then, starting in December 2025, for women aged 60 and over and men aged 65 and over. If you look at both figures, the current amount is 230,000 pesos.

Payment is monthly per cycle and the money remains available ten business days to claim it, unless the entity extends the deadline, as happened with the seventh cycle: it can be collected until September 20, 2026. In some municipalities, due to logistical agreements with the territorial entity, the delivery is every two months.

What happens to the cycle that is being paid in September 2026?

He seventh cycle It started on September 3, 2026 and was supposed to close on the 13th, but on September 14, Social Prosperity extended the deadline to collect it until September 20, 2026. Those who have not yet claimed their payment can go to authorized SuperGiros and SuRed locations in their municipality until that day. As of September 13, the 91 % group had already received their payment, leaving 241,830 seniors with outstanding payments. The payment cycle was scheduled for 2,788,074 people, totaling 639,643 million pesos; it was originally planned for the end of August but was postponed.

If you're looking for the monthly schedule with the other programs, we keep it separate in the subsidy payment schedule. Here we're left with the program: who gets in, what's required, and what to do when something goes wrong.

Who receives the payment in their bank account?

In this cycle, 24,598 participants Those who successfully registered a bank account or electronic deposit receive the money in that financial product, without having to go to a payment point, and usually receive it before those who get paid by money order.

For someone who lives far from the city center, that's not a technical detail: it's about not losing a day of travel. If your relative still receives money via money order, check with them how it works. Financial Information Manager.

How do I register step by step?

Registration is in person and free of charge, and the procedure described by the entity is as follows:

1. The elderly person approaches the mayor's office with the physical copy of national identity card. In almost all municipalities the procedure is done at the Office for Senior Citizens; in Bogotá, at the Local Sub-Directorates of Social Integration.
2. The official reviews the document and completes the registration in the Colombia Mayor Information System.
3. The system cross-references external databases to validate that the person does not receive a pension or income above the limit.
4. If everything works out, she is registered and placed on the priority list, waiting for a spot to become available.

When an application is unsuccessful, it's almost always due to database mismatches or the Sisbén group. We've compiled the most frequent causes in Why was my grant application rejected?.

How is the quota allocated when there isn't enough for everyone?

There are not enough resources for everyone who qualifies, so the entity ranks applicants by vulnerability: they consider age, Sisbén score or census list, disability, dependents, living alone without depending on anyone, and registration date.

There's one rule worth knowing: people from 90 years or older that appear on the lists of potential beneficiaries they enter automatically When there's space available. If you have someone in that age range at home, the question at the mayor's office is whether they're on the list, not if "there are openings.".

Why might you lose your Colombia Mayor subsidy?

The beneficiary loses the subsidy if they start receiving a pension, if they receive an income above the limit, if false information is found, if they move to another municipality, if they receive another old-age subsidy that, when added together, exceeds half the minimum wage, or if they retire.

And there is one cause that surprises families: not to charge four consecutive transfers —two, in municipalities with bimonthly payments— removes the person from the program. A sick senior citizen, or one who was staying with a relative in another city, could lose their payment without having done anything wrong. If you know they won't be able to go, ask at the Senior Citizen's Office before the ten business days expire.

Beware of scams: nobody charges you to sign up

Social Prosperity reiterates that All procedures with the entity are free of charge and do not require intermediaries.. No one is authorized to charge you for registration or for "guaranteeing" a spot. Check the official website of Colombia Mayor, in it seventh cycle statement and in the statement regarding the transfer of 230,000 pesos.

How Hepacom accompanies you

We don't handle the paperwork for you; that's done by the official agency. What we do is sit down with the family, organize the paperwork, and notify them when someone is trying to charge them for something that's free. Write to us at donaciones@hepacom.org or by our contact channel.

And we connect it with what drives us at our core, which is the decent housingAn elderly person with 230,000 pesos a month but without secure housing remains at risk because rent consumes the entire transfer. This guide is part of our Guide to state aid and subsidies in Colombia.

Colombia Mayor requirements and program conditions at a glance

This is what the entity publishes today. The figures change from cycle to cycle: confirm them before joining any line.

Data from Prosperidad Social (Colombia Mayor program page and 2026 cycle announcements), consulted on September 2, 2026; the deadline for the seventh cycle was updated with the announcement of September 14, 2026. Amounts, ages, and target groups may be updated: verify the current information on the official channel or at your mayor's office.

Common mistakes when processing Colombia Mayor

• Paying a fixer: Registration is free and takes place at the town hall. No one is authorized to charge for processing it.
• Let the cycle pass without getting paid: Four consecutive unclaimed payments remove the person from the program (two, if the municipality pays every two months).
• Do not check the Sisbén group before queuing: A reclassification to C2 or higher removes the person from the targeting process.

Frequently Asked Questions

From what age can I register for Colombia Mayor?
From age 54 for women and 59 for men, according to Prosperidad Social.

How much is Colombia Mayor paying in 2026?
The announcements for this year's cycles mention a basic income of 230,000 pesos per cycle. The program's website still shows the previous scheme of 80,000 and 225,000 pesos.

Can I receive Colombia Mayor if I already have a pension?
No. One of the requirements for Colombia Mayor is not to receive an old-age pension or to be listed as an active contributor to a fund.

I meet the requirements but haven't been paid, what should I do?
Spaces are limited per municipality and are assigned based on priority. Keep your registration and information up to date, confirm that your Sisbén group is still eligible, and ask at the Senior Citizen's Office for your appointment.

What happens if my family member cannot go to collect the money?
The money is available for ten business days (the seventh cycle, until September 20, 2026). If you miss four consecutive payments—two in municipalities with bimonthly payments—you will lose the subsidy: notify the mayor's office before the deadline.

Information guide. The official entity handles the process. Please verify through the official channel. Hepacom does not charge fees or process payments.