Know how to apply for retirement and ensure the review of the INSS benefit

INSS (National Social Security Institute) policyholders who wish to retire or request a benefit review must do so without leaving their home. Requests must be made through My INSS, which can be accessed through the website by clicking here or through the app with the same name, or through the Customer Service, on telephone 135.

In the case of Meu INSS, it is up to the insured to fill in all the registration data and send documents that prove the right to retirement or that support the request for review. On the phone, the information will be passed on to an attendant, who will register the insured’s request.

Regardless of the channel chosen by the beneficiary, the first step is to gather all the information that guarantees the right to the benefit or review, such as work portfolio, contribution guides, declarations and PPP (Professional Social Security Profile).

“Insured must check their Cnis [Cadastro Nacional de Informações Sociais] to check if there is any indicator of pending issues to be resolved, as well as to check if the documents necessary to file the application are clear, legible and in order”, advises Roberto de Carvalho Santos, president of Ieprev (Institute of Social Security Studies).

Before filing the application, it is possible to know if the worker is really entitled to retire. The insured can consult their own work portfolio to do the math or make a simulation through Meu INSS. In this case, you need to be careful, because there may be registration errors, such as lack of records.

“The insured needs to do a good check, that is, compare the contribution time of the simulation and the statement of contributions”, says Fernando Bosi, a lawyer at Almeida Advogados.

Insured must pay attention when requesting income correction

The request for review requires even more attention from the insured. This is because, when asking the INSS for an increase in income, when carrying out the analysis, the agency may find an error that causes the benefit amount to decrease. The deadline for requesting a review is up to ten years after payment of the first benefit. There is the right to arrears, which are unpaid differences, up to five years prior to application.

Step by step | Retirement Request and Review

• The insured who wishes to request retirement or review of a benefit must do so through Meu INSS or by calling 135
• However, before applying, it is necessary to be sure that there is the right to retire or to review the benefit.
• Therefore, the first step is to gather the documents that prove each of the situations. In the case of retirement, it is possible to make a simulation through My INSS before registering the request
• The review, on the other hand, should only be requested if the person is sure of his or her right, as it may cause harm, such as a reduction in the benefit amount

See how to apply for retirement

1. Access the My INSS app with login and password. The order can also be made through the website.
2. In the “Benefits” tab, select the “Request retirement” option
3. On the next screen, click on the type of retirement you want. For example: Pension by contribution time/urban age, Pension by rural age or Disabled person’s pension by age
4. Select “Update” to confirm the personal data registered. When finished, click to advance
5. You will then be asked a series of questions about contribution time and other information about the policyholder. Just select “yes” or “no” for each of them and proceed
6. When opening the screen with personal data, scroll down until the “Attachments” area appears, where the insured must include documents proving the right to retirement
7. Select each of the options whose document the policyholder wishes to send. For example: work permits and proof of exercise in public activity
8. After including all documents, proceed
9. The system will ask the CEP to locate the nearest INSS agency in case of need to comply with the requirement. Choose the desired unit and proceed
10. On the next screen, check the personal data and the details of the request. If everything is correct, complete the order.

See how to request administrative review

1. Access the My INSS app with login and password; the order can also be placed through the website.
2. Under “Most accessed”, select “Schedules/Requests”
3. On the next screen, click on “New application”
4. Select the “Resource and Review” option
5. Click on “Review”
6. Click on “Update” to check your personal data. When finished, go forward
7. Select the option that most applies to your case. For example, incorrect benefit amount
8. When opening the screen with personal data, scroll down until the “Attachments” area appears, where the insured must include documents that support the request for review. For example: medical reports and registration in the portfolio
9. The system will ask the CEP to locate the nearest INSS agency in case of need to comply with the requirement. Choose the desired unit and proceed
10. Check request information. If everything is correct, complete the order.

By phone 135 (to request retirement or review)

1. Enter the CPF number when the electronic service asks for it.
2. Write down the protocol number
3. Dial 0 to speak to an attendant
4. Inform the desired service and confirm the data as requested by the attendant

Top five tips

1 – Check your contribution record

• Before applying for retirement or review, carefully check your Cnis (INSS contribution register)
• For those who are going to retire, it is necessary to know if they have all the necessary contributions
• In the case of revision, it is necessary to check what the INSS left out

2 – Find out if it’s the best time to order

• This tip is especially for those who are going to retire.
• The decision to order is a personal one; it must take into account the right to the benefit and the financial situation so that there are no losses

3 – Have the documents at hand

• Both those who are going to retire and those who request revisions must gather the documents that guarantee the right
• Workbook is basic; pay stubs and other documents should not be forgotten

4 – Follow your process in My INSS

• The administrative process of retirement or review must be accompanied by My INSS
• There, it is possible to know the progress, if there was a concession or even to comply with the institute’s requirements

5 – Go to court if necessary​

• If the INSS exceeds the legal deadline to give an answer or denies the request, go to the Judiciary
• According to a court agreement, retirement requests must be responded to within 90 days
• Reviews must be responded to within 45 days.

_{Sources: INSS (National Social Security Institute) and report}