Brazil's MEI program expands benefits and enrollment for millions of micro‑entrepreneurs

The Microempreendedor Individual (MEI) scheme gives informal workers formal status and access to Brazil's social security system. By paying the monthly DAS contribution, MEI owners acquire the right to INSS benefits, including retirement by age (women 62 years with 15 contributions, men 65 years with 20 contributions), disability or temporary incapacity aid after 12 contributions, maternity allowance for 120 days, and family benefits such as death pension and auxiliary‑reclusion for qualifying dependents. Contributors lose "quality of insured" after 12 months without payment and must resume contributions to regain benefits.

MEI owners can increase their eventual pension above the minimum wage by paying an optional extra 15 % contribution through the GPS form, raising the total contribution to 20 % and aligning the entitlement with other individual contributors.

The programme continues to grow rapidly. Data from DataSebrae show 2.9 million new small businesses were registered in the first half of 2026, of which more than 75 % are MEIs. Active MEIs reached over 17 million nationwide, with Minas Gerais hosting the second‑largest share (about 1.8 million). The sector remains concentrated in services (≈64 % of new firms) and is a major driver of formal employment and credit access for low‑income entrepreneurs.