Brazil revises social security benefits, detailing family wage and special retirement rules

The family wage (salário‑família) benefit remains active for eligible Brazilian workers, including employees with formal contracts, domestic workers, independent contractors and qualifying retirees. Payments are made per dependent, with amounts reaching up to roughly R$ 648 a month depending on the number of qualifying children or dependents and the worker’s income level. Applicants must present identification, birth certificates, proof of schooling or vaccination where required, and income documentation; requests are submitted through employers, the INSS portal or relevant agencies.

In a separate development, Brazil’s Supreme Court struck down the minimum‑age requirement for special retirement, ruling that only the length of contribution matters. Workers exposed to hazardous conditions now qualify after 15, 20 or 25 years of contributions, depending on risk level. The benefit is calculated at 60 % of the average salary since July 1994, with an extra two‑percentage‑point increase for each year beyond the minimum. The court kept the 2019 reform’s reduced accrual formula and maintained the need for the professional profile (PPP) and technical work condition reports for verification.