Brazil's INSS allocates R$547 million refunds and begins femicide victim pensions

The federal government approved a R$547 million allocation for the Instituto Nacional do Seguro Social (INSS) to refund retirees and pensioners who suffered illegal deductions by associative entities. The automatic reimbursement, up to R$1,280 per beneficiary, will be credited to the same bank account used for regular benefit payments and follows the "Operação Sem Desconto" investigation.

The INSS also opened the first round of analysis for a special pension for children and other dependents of women killed in femicide. Around 400 pending requests will be examined, with payments of one minimum‑wage (R$ 1,621) per month, retroactive to the filing date, subject to income and registration criteria. The benefit covers biological, adopted and step‑children under 18, including those of transgender victims.

Separately, the Federal Medical Examination service began accelerating medical‑exam appointments in several states (Goiás, Maranhão, Mato Grosso) to cut average waiting times from about 30 days to shorter periods, allowing beneficiaries to choose alternative agencies via the Meu INSS app or the 135 hotline. A pending request for a new INSS recruitment contest seeks authorization for up to 8,500 new technical and analyst positions, but it has not yet received final approval.