The rules for retirement based on contribution time in Brasil were changed to 2025, eliminating the minimum age requirement for granting the benefit. The change allows workers to request retirement upon completing 35 years of contribution, in the case of men, and 30 years for women, regardless of their age at the time of the request.
The measure, implemented by Instituto Nacional of Seguro Social (INSS), aims to benefit mainly workers who started their professional careers earlier. The new calculation methodology also eliminates the social security factor, which previously reduced the value of the benefit for those who retired young.
With the update, the retirement value will be calculated based on the average of all contributions made by the insured person since July 1994.
How the new benefit calculation works in practice
The main change in calculating retirement based on contribution time is the way in which the final value is calculated. From 2025 onwards, the benefit will correspond to 100% of the average of all the insured’s contribution wages since the beginning of Plano Real, in July 1994.
To encourage workers to remain active for longer, the new legislation introduced a performance bonus. For each year that the worker contributes beyond the minimum time (35 years for men and 30 for women), the value of his benefit will receive an increase of 2%. Dessa way, a man who contributes for 38 years, three more than required, will have a 6% increase over his average salary, resulting in a more advantageous benefit.
Who are the main beneficiaries of the change
The extinction of the minimum age for retirement based on contribution time directly impacts workers who began their professional lives when they were still young, a common reality in several categories in the country. Profissionais rural workers, industrial workers and other workers in sectors that require great physical effort and who often begin their activities before the age of 18, can now plan the end of their careers with more autonomy. A man who started working at the age of 16, for example, will be able to retire at age 51, as soon as he completes 35 years of payments to the INSS. Da Likewise, a woman who started contributing at 18 will be able to request the benefit at age 48. Essa flexibilidade reconhece a longa jornada contributiva desses profissionais, permitindo um descanso merecido sem a necessidade de esperar por uma idade pré-determinada, o que antes representava uma barreira significativa para o acesso ao benefício.
Step by step to apply online
The process for requesting retirement under the new guidelines has been simplified and can be done entirely digitally. The insured must access the Meu INSS portal or application and log in using their Gov.br system credentials.
Within the platform, you need to select the option “New Pedido” and then search for “Retirement by Tempo of Contribuição”. The system will request the updating of registration data and the sending of scanned documents, such as ID, CPF and work cards.
Analysis of the effects on the economy and the market
The relaxation of retirement rules could generate a significant renewal in the job market. The departure of more experienced professionals tends to open up vacancies that can be filled by younger workers, contributing to the reduction in unemployment rates among this group of the population.
This transition, however, represents a challenge for the financial sustainability of the pension system. The increase in the number of new beneficiaries increases the government’s annual expenses, which already amount to hundreds of billions of reais in the payment of pensions.
Specialists in public accounts point to the need to monitor the balance between revenue and expenses. In the long term, the sustainability of the system will depend on efficient fiscal management to guarantee future payments.
The increase in life expectancy in the country, which is approaching 77 years, is another factor that adds pressure to the system, as benefits will be paid over a longer period.
Insured person preparation and planning
Before starting the request, it is essential that the worker checks his contribution statement, the Cadastro Nacional of Informações Sociais (CNIS), to ensure that all employment relationships are correctly registered. Qualquer inconsistency may delay the analysis of the process and must be corrected in advance.
History of contribution rules
The retirement model in Brasil has undergone several transformations over the last few decades, reflecting the country’s demographic and economic changes. The rules were continually adjusted to strike a balance between workers’ rights and the viability of the system.
In the 1990s, the social security factor was created as a mechanism to discourage early retirement. Anos later, in 2015, the 85/95 rule emerged as a more advantageous alternative for the calculation, adding age and contribution time.
The 2019 reform established a minimum age as a mandatory requirement, tightening access conditions. Agora, the 2025 change returns to the focus on length of service as the main criterion, marking a new phase in social security.
Expected increase in demand for the benefit
The INSS expects a significant increase in the volume of retirement requests in the coming months. Muitos workers who already had the necessary contribution time, but had not yet reached the previous minimum age, are now eligible for the benefit.
This scenario reinforces the need for careful individual financial planning. The decision to retire early must consider the impact on family income and the organization of personal finances for the future.
