Created this Friday (25) by provisional measure, the third phase of the individual debt renegotiation program, called Desenrola 3.0, brings important changes in relation to the previous stages.
The Union will be able to purchase portfolios of defaulted debts at auctions and pass on the discount obtained in the operation in full to the debtor. In previous phases, debts were negotiated directly between creditors and debtors.
The government's expectation is that up to R$150 billion in debt will be eligible for the program, with the potential to benefit up to 15 million people.
How will it work?
The new phase will be aimed at bank and non-bank debts of up to R$10,000, considering the original value of the debt.
To participate in the operation, debts must be in arrears of 720 days to 1,645 days, counting from September 25, 2026.
In practice, the process will be divided into steps:
1. The Union will hold auctions to purchase debt portfolios.
2. Creditors will present discount proposals.
3. Proposals will be classified by the highest discount offered.
4. The discount obtained by the Union will be passed on in full to the debtor.
5. The consumer can pay the balance in cash or pay it in installments.
6. In the case of installments, the conditions will still be defined by the National Monetary Council (CMN).
Who can participate?
The MP establishes the following main criteria:
• Debts of up to R$10 thousand, at the original value;
• Default of more than 720 days;
• Default of less than 1,645 days;
• Bank and non-bank debts.
The Ministry of Finance may establish additional income and debtor prioritization criteria.
Auctions may take place in batches and separate debts according to their nature, between bank and non-bank.
How much will the discount be?
The minimum discount required in auctions will be 90%, with the discount obtained on the purchase being fully transferred to the debtor.
Thus, if an eligible debt of R$10,000 is acquired by the Union with the minimum discount provided, the amount considered for renegotiation will be R$1,000.
The consumer will be able to:
• pay the balance at once, maintaining the discount;
• or pay the remaining amount in installments, plus interest, in accordance with the rules that will still be established by the CMN.
How much will be invested?
The government's estimate is that up to R$150 billion in debt may be eligible for purchase.
The forecast considers only a portion of the stock of R$592 billion in defaulted debts registered with credit bureaus in August 2026.
The government estimates:
• up to R$75 billion in debts effectively renegotiated;
• up to 15 million people benefited;
• maximum cost of R$15 billion for the acquisition of portfolios by the Union.
The resources must be provided for in the Annual Budget Bills (PLOAs) for 2027 and 2028.
When does it start?
The implementation of the program will follow the schedule set out in the MP:
• September 2026: publication of the provisional measure;
• November 2026: publication of the call for proposals;
• December 2026: creditors deliver proposals;
• January 2027: approval of selected proposals;
• February 2027: signing of contracts and beginning of the transfer of discounts to debtors.
From February 2027 onwards, payment in cash or payment in installments by consumers is expected.
Size of default
National Treasury data cited by the government shows the scale of the problem.
In August 2026, there were R$592 billion in defaulted debts registered with credit bureaus, considering debts up to five years late.
The survey also points out:
• 83.9 million negative people;
• average of four debts per person;
• average value of R$7 thousand per person;
• average of R$1,700 per debt;
• 56% of those negative were women;
• around 55% of the stock corresponded to non-bank debts.
Non-bank debts include debts with water, energy, telephone and retail companies.
What changed?
In the first two phases of the program, renegotiation depended on negotiation between consumers and creditors.
In the third stage, the logic changes: the government starts to act directly in the purchase of debt portfolios.
The discount obtained in the auctions will be transferred to the consumer, who will be able to choose between paying off the balance at once or paying the remaining amount in installments.
Previous phases
In the first two phases, Desenrola reached around 25 million people.
The first phase focused on bank and non-bank debts negative since 2019:
• More than 8 million renegotiation operations;
• R$53 billion in debts renegotiated;
• 15 million people and families served.
The second phase was aimed at bank debts with defaults of 90 days to two years:
• More than 5.5 million operations;
• R$22 billion in debts renegotiated;
• 10 million people and families served.
