Brazil Senate Delays Health Workers' Pension Amendment as Deputies Push New Retirement Calculation Bill

The Brazilian Senate voted to postpone the constitutional amendment that would create a special retirement regime for community health agents and endemic‑combating agents. The delay gives the Lula government additional weeks to negotiate the proposal, which estimates an extra cost of about R$30 billion annually for the Union, potentially reaching R$300 billion over ten years. The amendment would lower the retirement age to 57 for women and 60 for men, provided 25 years of contributions, and applies to both public‑service and general‑social‑security regimes.

Separately, Deputy Ribamar Silva (Pode‑SP) introduced Bill 3379/2026, aiming to let INSS beneficiaries choose the most advantageous calculation method for their pensions, including contributions made before July 1994 (“revisão da vida toda”). The bill would automatically revise benefits for retirees who qualified before the 2019 reform, but would not provide retroactive payments. Its sponsor says the measure would improve fairness without creating a large fiscal burden.