Proof of life is a mandatory procedure for beneficiaries of the National Institute of Social Security (INSS) who receive their benefits through a bank account. Thus, this procedure is a security measure adopted by the INSS to prevent fraud and ensure that benefits are paid only to beneficiaries who are alive and eligible to receive them.
Thus, the proof of life aims to protect public assets and ensure that resources are allocated appropriately. Therefore, all INSS beneficiaries must provide proof of life annually. This includes retirees, pensioners and sickness benefit recipients, among others. Failure to comply with this obligation may result in the suspension of the benefit.
How does the INSS proof of life work?
Therefore, since the publication of MPS Ordinance No. 723, of March 8, 2024, the INSS has been using the last proof of life processed as a time frame. Thus, from that date onwards, the INSS will have 10 months to identify citizen interactions in shared databases for new proof of life, which may be:
- Access to the Meu INSS application;
- Biometrics in bank branches;
- Hiring a payroll loan with biometrics;
- Medical expertise, in person or remotely;
- Registration or re-registration with traffic or security agencies;
- Issuing documents, such as passport, driver's license and work permit;
- Voting in elections;
- Updating the Single Registry for Federal Government Social Programs (CadÚnico);
- Personal Income Tax Declaration (IRPF);
- Between others.
However, if it is not possible to prove this by cross-referencing the data, the INSS will call on the beneficiary to carry out the procedure in another way.
Who does not need to do the procedure
However, it is important to remember that the following INSS beneficiaries do not need to provide proof of life:
- Benefits lasting up to one year;
- Benefits granted less than a year ago, such as unemployment insurance and maternity pay.
Image: Marcello Casal Jr. / Agência Brasil
