MEI guarantees retirement and other INSS benefits; see which ones

He can receive benefits from the National Social Security Institute (INSS) in the event of retirement, illness, disability or maternity. Dependents can also be protected, with access to the death pension and imprisonment assistance, as long as the requirements set out in law are met.

However, each benefit has its own rules, such as minimum age, contribution time and waiting period.

What is deficiency?

The grace period is the minimum number of monthly contributions required for the insured to be entitled to certain INSS benefits.

Contributions do not need to be consecutive. However, the entrepreneur cannot go too long without contributing to the point of losing the so-called "insured status", which is the link with Social Security.

As a rule, anyone who stops paying INSS maintains this condition for up to 12 months after the last contribution. After this period, you may lose the right to some benefits until you contribute again.

For retirement due to age, all contributions made throughout life continue to be counted, even if there are long periods without payment.

How is it calculated?

The value of benefits takes into account all contributions made by the worker to the INSS since July 1994.

Those who have always contributed only as MEI, whose contribution is calculated on one minimum wage, will normally receive benefits worth one minimum wage.

Those who also contributed to other jobs with higher salaries may receive a benefit higher than the national minimum, depending on their contribution history.

Retirement

MEI is entitled to retirement based on age, as long as it meets the requirements established by Social Security.

For those who started contributing after the Pension Reform, in November 2019, the rules are:

• Women: 62 years of age and at least 15 years of contribution.

• Men: 65 years of age and 20 years of contribution.

For those who already contributed before the reform, transition rules apply.

In this case, men must be 65 years of age and have 15 years of contributions. For women, the minimum age began to increase gradually from 2020 until reaching the current 62 years, maintaining the requirement of 15 years of contribution.

Disability benefit

The old sickness benefit, today called temporary incapacity benefit, is paid when the worker is temporarily unable to carry out his activity due to illness or accident.

As a rule, 12 monthly contributions are required before applying for the benefit.

Retirement due to permanent incapacity, formerly disability retirement, also requires, as a rule, 12 contributions and is granted when medical expertise concludes that the insured will no longer be able to return to work.

In cases of accidents of any nature or illnesses provided for by law, these benefits may be granted even without fulfilling the waiting period.

Maternity pay

The entrepreneur who contributes as MEI can also receive maternity pay.

The benefit is paid for 120 days in cases of:

• childbirth;

• adoption;

• judicial custody for adoption purposes;

• abortion provided for by law.

To be eligible, it is necessary to comply with the social security requirements established by the INSS.

Family rights

MEI dependents can also receive social security benefits.

Among them are the death pension and incarceration benefit.

Death pension

The death pension does not require a minimum waiting period. It is enough for the insured to have made at least one valid contribution and maintain the status of insured at the time of death.

The benefit can be paid to the spouse, partner, children and other dependents provided for in the legislation.

The duration varies depending on the age of the surviving spouse and the length of marriage or stable union.

When the insured person has not made at least 18 contributions or the marriage or stable union is less than two years old, the pension is normally paid for four months.

In other cases, the period can vary from three years to life for spouses aged 45 or over at the date of death.

For children, the benefit is generally paid until the age of 21, except in cases of disability or disability.

Prison aid

The confinement aid is intended for dependents of low-income insured people imprisoned in a closed regime.

For this benefit, 24 monthly contributions are required from the insured person before imprisonment.

The amount is limited to one minimum wage and depends on compliance with other legal requirements.

Where to consult

Entrepreneurs can consult information about benefits and social security status through the Meu INSS application, the official INSS website or the 135 Call Center.

The guideline is to keep contributions up to date to preserve the status of insured person and guarantee access to social security benefits when necessary.

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