INSS rolls out facial‑biometrics for loans and starts 13th‑salary payments
Brazil's Instituto Nacional do Seguro Social (INSS) began enforcing new security rules for consignado (pay‑roll) loans on Tuesday, requiring borrowers to confirm the credit by facial biometric verification through the Meu INSS app or website. The change, part of the Novo Desenrola Brasil program, also extends the maximum repayment period to 108 monthly installments and bans loan contracts made by phone or third‑party proxies.
On Monday, the INSS launched the second installment of the annual 13th‑salary benefit, with payments starting on 25 May and continuing through 8 June. About 35 million retirees, pensioners and other beneficiaries receiving regular social security benefits will receive the advance, while recipients of assistance programs such as BPC are excluded. Payments are scheduled by the final digit of the beneficiary’s NIS number, with those earning up to one minimum wage paid first.