Government publishes ordinance with rules on proof of life for the INSS - ISTOÉ DINHEIRO

The Ministry of Labor and Welfare published, in the Official Diary of the Union of today (3), ordinance that regulates the procedures to be adopted for the annual proof of life of beneficiaries of the National Institute of Social Security (INSS).

Ordinance No. 1,408 presents some situations (acts, means, information or databases) that will be considered valid as proof of life.

One of them is the making of a payroll loan, as long as it is carried out by biometric recognition. It also considers, for the same purpose, access to the Meu INSS application “with the seal of another or other applications and systems of public bodies and entities that have certification and access control”, both in Brazil and abroad.

Calls made in person at INSS agencies or by biometric recognition at partner entities or institutions will also be considered proof of life. Medical expertise, by telemedicine or face-to-face, as well as vaccination or care in the public health system or in a partner network will also serve as proof of life.

Other situations that come to be classified as proof of life are registration or re-registration with the transit or public safety agencies; receipt of benefit payment with biometric recognition; updates in CadÚnico (when carried out by the person responsible for the group; voting in elections; and issuance or renewals of passport, driver’s license, identity or work; military enlistment; income tax declaration, as holder or dependent; or “other documents officials that require the physical presence of the user or biometric recognition”.

According to the ordinance, it will be up to the INSS to notify the beneficiary when it is not possible to prove life by these means. In situations in which the beneficiary is not identified in any of these bases, the INSS “will provide means for carrying out the proof of life without the beneficiaries having to move from their homes”, adds the ordinance.

About 36 million beneficiaries take the proof of life every year. Of these, about 5 million are over 80 years of age. The INSS has until December 31 to implement the necessary changes. To date, the payment block due to lack of proof of life is suspended.

Proof of life serves to prevent fraud and overpayments. The changes apply to beneficiaries who have a birthday from the date of publication of the ordinance. The Institute has until December 31 of this year to implement the new features. Until then, the payment block due to lack of proof of life is suspended.