Brazil Supreme Court Upholds Ban on Full‑Life Pension Review

On 12 May 2024 the Brazilian Supreme Court (STF) voted by a majority to keep its earlier decision that blocks the “revisão da vida toda” – a full‑life recalculation of INSS retirement benefits. The vote, taken in a virtual hearing of ADI 2.111, recorded seven votes to reject the declaration of embargo filed by the Confederation of Metalworkers (CNTM). Relator Minister Nunes Marques said the issue had already been exhaustively debated and ordered the case to be closed. Ministers Cristiano Zanin, Cármen Lúcia, Alexandre de Moraes, Gilmar Mendes, Flávio Dino and Luiz Fux joined the majority, while Justice Dias Toffoli was the sole dissenting voice, arguing that retirees filing claims between 16 December 2019 and 5 April 2024 should benefit from the revision. The ruling reverses a March 2024 STF decision that had temporarily reinstated the review, and it confirms that contributions made before July 1994 will not be considered in pension calculations, affecting millions of retirees nationwide.