Brazil's INSS to speed maternity pay and add 5% retirement boost for mothers

A new law (Law 15.415/2026) requires the Instituto Nacional do Seguro Social (INSS) to approve and pay maternity benefits within 30 days of the request. If the deadline is missed, a provisional automatic payment is made while the institute completes its review.

The Conselho de Recursos da Previdência Social (CRPS) issued Resolution 13/2026, confirming that no contribution carence is required for the salary‑maternity benefit but that claimants must prove they were insured at the time of the qualifying event (birth, adoption or legal custody). The rule clarifies the evidence needed for various categories, including voluntary contributors.

Separately, the Chamber of Deputies' Commission on Women’s Rights approved a bill that would grant a 5 % increase to the retirement or pension of women who have cared for children, rising to a maximum of 15 % for up to three children. The proposal, authored by Deputy Duda Ramos, still requires review by the committees on Social Security, Finance, and Constitution before moving to the Senate. The increase would apply only to benefits granted after the law takes effect and would not be retroactive.