Can pensions change again? Will the valuation of the minimum return? What the candidates say

Unlike the 2018 campaign, when Social Security reform was a recurring topic among candidates for the Presidency of the Republic, the topic has been left out in interviews and debates in the 2022 elections.

THE Sheet analyzed what the government plans of the four candidates who scored the most in electoral polls say —Lula (PT), Jair Bolsonaro (PL), Ciro Gomes (PDT) and Simone Tebet (MDB)— and sent questions to candidates about Social Security, INSS (National Social Security Institute) and minimum wage.

Of the four presidential candidates, three took a stand. Lula, Ciro Gomes and Simone Tebet added information beyond what is in their government plans. Jair Bolsonaro’s campaign reported that the candidate would not speak, as well as any representative, despite the insistence of the report.

What presidential candidates say about Social Security and minimum wage

Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT)

The appreciation of the minimum wage, with a readjustment above inflation, is one of the first themes presented in Lula’s government plan. Implemented in his first term, the measure, which was in force in PT governments, determines a readjustment that takes into account the inflation of the previous year plus the growth of the GDP (Gross Domestic Product) of two years before.

This policy has a direct impact on public spending, since the minimum wage is the minimum wage for retirement and pensions, in addition to being the amount paid to those who receive BPC (Continued Provision Benefit) and other social, assistance and social security benefits, and therefore , divides experts.

In a note, Lula’s campaign countered the criticism and reaffirmed that it intends to resume it. “Of course, the real increase in the minimum wage impacts government spending. But, as we have shown in the recent past, as part of an overall strategy for the economy, with fiscal responsibility, this must be an adequate way to induce market growth. internal market and, therefore, revenue”, he says.

The candidate states that he intends to review points of the Social Security reform considered controversial and that appear in actions in the STF (Supreme Federal Court). Among the changes that can be reviewed are the minimum retirement age and the reductions in the pension for death.

“The purpose of special retirement is to reduce this exposure time to a level that preserves the health and life of people, who should be entitled to retirement after 15, 20 or 25 years of working in these activities. With the reform, no one can retire before 55 years of age, that is, this requirement nullifies the objective of protecting the health and life of these workers”, he says.

Regarding the death pension, the candidate talks about “reviewing or even revoking” the rules, classified as cruel.

In the government plan, the inclusion of new categories in the pension system is also addressed, which especially includes application workers, such as drivers and delivery men.

Jair Bolsonaro (PL)

Responsible for the pension reform that, from a fiscal point of view, had an effect even greater than expected, Jair Bolsonaro (PL) does not discuss the topic in his government plan or with the report. The mention of the INSS is only in a point that deals with the use of technology, in which the document highlights the services offered on the Meu INSS app or website.

There is also no mention of minimum wage policy. His government, however, would be responsible for renewing the policy of valuing the minimum wage, but did not do so. Currently, the minimum wage and pensions are adjusted for inflation each year.

Sought, Bolsonaro’s campaign reported that the candidate would not speak and that there was no one who could answer questions directed at the themes.

Ciro Gomes (PDT)

Ciro Gomes’ government plan does not directly deal with issues such as Social Security, INSS and minimum wage, but, when answering the questions in the report, the pedestrian said that he will implement his own policy of valuing the minimum wage and intends to carry out a new Social Security reform. .

The readjustments should be progressive, above inflation, but will depend on the results of fiscal, tax and social security reforms that are approved in Congress. “We have not yet defined the percentages or the readjustment rule, but we want the minimum wage to reach the value of R$ 1,600 as soon as possible”, he says.

For Social Security, the candidate proposes a reform in which the social security system is divided into three pillars. The first one would be the minimum income, which would pay R$1,000 to Brazilians considered to be in the poverty line, but without changing the BPC and rural retirement, which currently pays a minimum wage.

The second pillar would be to maintain the current system, with the current retirement rules for those who work and contribute, and the third would be capitalization, a kind of private pension for income above a certain amount, to be defined with Congress. This private pension will be voluntary.

“The new rules will only apply to those who start working after the reform is approved. In this way, we will be able to balance the Social Security accounts in the medium term without generating future pressures that will undoubtedly occur in the current regime”, he says.

About special retirement, he says he will keep the right and, in the pension for death, the rules can be revised in his retirement.

Simone Tebet

MDB candidate Simone Tebet, who saw her voting intentions grow in the presidential polls after the debate between candidates and the official start of the electoral campaign, made it clear in her government plan that the minimum wage will have preserved purchasing power, with annual readjustments “based at least on inflation”.

To the report, she stated that “adjusting for inflation should be the basic and permanent rule” if elected.

Regarding the pension reform, in which Tebet voted in favour, she states that her vote in favor was because she understood that the reform “maintained the acquired rights and reduced the disparities of the system, making it less unequal, for the new beneficiaries”.

“The values ​​of the smaller benefits, corresponding to the vast majority of beneficiaries, were fully preserved. The candidate thinks that the reform should be reviewed to deepen this direction, not being favorable to go back on what has already been achieved”, she says, in a note.

In order to promote the social security system, Tebet proposes in his government plan to reduce the social security contribution to the range of a minimum wage for all workers. “This would be a way to encourage formalization”, says the text.

The rules for special retirements and death benefits should not be changed, but the candidate does not rule out a review “to deepen” what has been done, without “going back” on what has already been achieved, she says.

About the judicialization of the minimum age in special retirement, Simone Tebet says that resorting to the Judiciary is very frequent in this type of benefit, as the insured want to retire earlier.

“And now, after the reform, they turn to the STF to preserve the old rule and, thus, guarantee wholesale early granting of their pensions. Of course, we will wait and respect the sovereign decision of Justice”, he says in a note.

In the case of pensions for death, she states that the 40% reduction criterion applies only to a small number of benefits, greater than 1.6 minimum wages and that “the reduction of the value of the benefit when it becomes a pension is adopted internationally”.

“The candidate does not intend to review the rule, which is in line with the general direction of the reform, of reducing disparities”, he says.