INSS beneficiaries can use election voting as proof of life

In Brazil, voting in the first round of the 2026 elections on October 4 will serve as an automatic ‘proof of life’ (prova de vida) for approximately 40 million INSS beneficiaries, including retirees and pensioners. The Superior Electoral Court (TSE) will share attendance data with the National Social Security Institute (INSS) to verify that beneficiaries are alive, eliminating the need for manual or in-person verification for those who vote. Officials emphasize that while voting helps maintain benefits, failing to vote will not result in the suspension or blocking of payments.

Separately, the INSS has released the payment schedule for October 2026. For those receiving up to one minimum wage, payments begin on October 26 and run through November 9, depending on the final digit of the benefit card. For beneficiaries receiving above the minimum wage, payments start on November 3 and conclude on November 9.