INSS Opens Refunds to Pensioners and Heirs of Deceased Beneficiaries Starting Wednesday

Overview

• Beginning Nov. 19, holders of survivor pensions can request reimbursement through Meu INSS, the 135 hotline, PrevBarco or Correios, with payments split among all pensioners tied to the benefit.
• Heirs of deceased beneficiaries who left no pension must first be recognized in the system by submitting a public deed or court order that expressly authorizes contestation, then file for reimbursement via the same channels.
• The INSS estimates about 800,000 deceased victims with nearly R$700 million deducted, and approved refunds will be apportioned among recognized successors.
• The government extended the deadline to contest unauthorized deductions to Feb. 14, 2026, following low initial uptake of the refund process.
• To date, roughly 3.7 million people have recovered about R$2.5 billion, while legal experts warn the new heir documentation requirements could add costs and delays that discourage claims.