Key Facts
—The backlog. About 2.6 million Brazilians are waiting for the INSS, the national social-security institute, to decide their benefit claims — up from 2.4 million in mid-2025.
—The setback. A programme that paid staff bonuses to clear cases faster, the PGB, was suspended in October 2025 after its R$200 million (about US$39 million) budget ran out early.
—The fix. Since January 2026 a new National Queue lets any authorised official anywhere in the country handle any claim, prioritising the longest waits.
—The focus. Disability and the BPC welfare benefit for the poor and elderly make up about 80% of the pending demand.
