INSS beneficiaries in Brazil can use voting as proof of life

The Brazilian Ministry of Social Security has announced that retirees and pensioners of the National Institute of Social Security (INSS) who vote in the 2026 elections will have their 'Prova de Vida' (proof of life) completed automatically. This measure, which was previously established in 2022, utilizes the crossing of data between the Electoral Justice system and the INSS database to verify the status of beneficiaries.

Approximately 40 million active beneficiaries, including retirees and those receiving social assistance benefits, are covered by this annual verification process. The initiative aims to reduce the need for physical travel to banks or INSS agencies, thereby minimizing queues and costs while increasing convenience for the elderly and those with limited mobility.

Social Security Minister Wolney Queiroz stated that the measure simplifies the lives of pensioners by allowing the act of voting to serve as official confirmation of existence. For those who do not vote, the INSS will continue to use other methods to verify life status, such as biometric identification, vaccination records, or updates to the CadÚnico system.