Proof of life will be done automatically by the INSS starting this month

The Ministry of Social Security announced, this Wednesday (11), that it is studying the last details so that the INSS (National Institute of Social Security) starts to carry out, starting this month, the automatic proof of life, through data crossing .

For now, says the federal government, there will be no blocking of benefits due to lack of proof of life.

Under the new rule, retirees and pensioners will no longer be required to leave their homes to prove they are alive and continue receiving the benefit.

The INSS states, however, that those who prefer can do proof of life as in previous years, in the banking network or through My INSS.

“Citizens can also access My INSS or call 135 to check the date of the last life confirmation. .

Doubts about proof of life

Is proof of life suspended?

Do not. The responsibility for proving that the insured person is alive will become the responsibility of the INSS. With the new ordinance, policyholders will not need to provide proof of life in person at bank branches.

How will the INSS prove that the retiree or pensioner is still alive?

There will be cross-checking of insured information in databases. If the benefit holder performs procedures such as issuing a passport or renewing the CNH (National Driver’s License), the system will understand that he is alive. Thus, proof of life will be done automatically.

Which period will be analyzed?

The ten months after the holder’s last birthday, second Ministry of Social Security and the INSS.

What movements will be considered proof that the insured is alive?

The list released by the government, to be confirmed in the new ordinance to be published, includes:

• vaccination records
• consultations in the SUS (Single Health System)
• proof of voting in the elections
• issuance or renewal of passport
• issuance or duplicate of identity card
• Issuing or renewing a driver’s license
• operations recorded in the database of private institutions, not yet detailed by the government
• contracting payroll loan

If no movement is made, what will be done?

If the insured person does not carry out any movement during this period, exceptionally the in-person proof of life may be carried out. But who should go to the insured is the INSS, according to a government note. The body must offer means for proof of life to be carried out without the retiree leaving home, through affiliated entities or partners or even the banks that pay the benefit. Details will be released when the ordinance is published.

According to the Ministry of Social Security, preferably these beneficiaries should carry out the annual re-registration electronically, through the Meu INSS application or through biometrics, at the ATMs of the bank responsible for the payment.

Can I continue doing proof of life at the bank?

Yes. Those who prefer can continue going to the bank. Financial institutions will not be able to deny the procedure, according to the ministry.

Is the change positive for policyholders?

The change was considered a step forward by specialists in the field, such as the social security lawyer and president of Ieprev, Roberto de Carvalho Santos, but it is seen with caution, especially considering the recent cut in INSS resources carried out by the government.

“There are already systems that dialogue with each other, so it ended up imposing too much on the insured person to provide this proof of life, through complex procedures or in difficult times, such as during lockdown periods. They ended up not receiving the benefit until to be able to do the proof of life”, he says.

“On the one hand, the INSS advances by exempting the insured person from providing proof of life in person at a time that is still a pandemic. On the other hand, this will require improvements to artificial intelligence systems and data crossing. The R$ 988 cut million in INSS expenses made by President Bolsonaro needs to be reviewed, as another responsibility of great importance for Social Security is now assigned.”

Operationalization will be a challenge, says social security lawyer Wagner Souza. “The question is whether the government will be able to satisfactorily fulfill this obligation to track databases of other federal entities. Within the Union it is simpler, but it is still not clear how this access to the database of states and municipalities will be done , or even companies.”

How was it done before?

The proof of life was in person, in the month of the insured person’s birthday. It could be performed via an employee service or at an ATM, with biometrics. Those who had facial biometrics registered with Denatran (National Department of Transit) or TSE (Superior Electoral Court), due to their driver’s license or voter registration, could do proof of life in the Meu INSS application.