Brazil's TCU orders INSS to revamp automatic benefit system within 180 days

The Federal Court of Accounts (TCU) gave the National Institute of Social Security (INSS) a 180‑day deadline to change its automatic benefit‑granting system. The court ruled that the current process, which often awards the first‑identified benefit without checking pending employment ties, can deny workers the most advantageous entitlement.

The TCU ordered the INSS to pay undisputed amounts immediately and to notify workers of any irregularities so they can correct them and receive a better benefit. It also recommended evaluating the discontinuation of the decades‑old Prisma system and adopting newer technologies to improve integration and automation. The decision highlighted geographic disparities in automatic grant rates across municipalities and called for a more equitable rollout.