We study whether low-cost digital informational interventions can increase the take-up of fully online public programs. We embed a nationwide randomized controlled trial into the rollout of Desenrola Brasil, a digital debt relief initiative targeting indebted households in Brazil. Over 2.3 million eligible individuals were randomly assigned to receive email messages with information about how to access the program online, how to seek in-person assistance at the post office, or both. On average, the intervention had no detectable effects, since only 3% of recipients opened the messages. Email opening was selective, with more vulnerable and less digitally connected individuals substantially less likely to engage. Conditional on exposure, however, providing enrollment guidance significantly increased platform access, renegotiation, and repayment. Heterogeneity analysis shows that effects are largest among socioeconomically vulnerable individuals who are not fully digitally excluded.
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