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INSS beneficiaries who did not have movements recognized by automatic systems are being summoned via verified WhatsApp to regularize their registration and ensure the continuity of pension and assistance benefit payments throughout the national territory.
About 15 million retirees, pensioners, and beneficiaries of the National Institute of Social Security need to regularize the so-called proof of life, a procedure created to confirm that the insured person is still alive and to prevent fraud and improper payments from Brazilian public coffers.
Since 2023, the INSS has been carrying out this process automatically, cross-referencing information of the insured with various federal government databases, such as biometric records, access to applications, and renewal of official documents in public agencies across the country.
However, for the 15 million beneficiaries for whom the system did not find sufficient recent records, the institute started sending notifications via WhatsApp with the blue verified account badge, which officially identifies Brazilian government profiles on digital platforms.
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The procedure is part of a broader federal government strategy to modernize pension management, reducing the volume of in-person visits to agencies and making the registration verification of millions of citizens across the national territory more agile.
The communication can also arrive through the Gov.br app inbox, in addition to notifications from the benefit-paying bank via the account app or the bank statement available at agencies and ATMs distributed throughout Brazilian cities.
How the system identifies who needs to regularize the situation
Among the actions that the government considers valid to confirm that the beneficiary is alive are access to Meu INSS with a gold badge, taking out a payroll loan through biometric recognition, and registration with traffic or public safety agencies.
Also counted are updates in CadÚnico made by the head of the family group, participation in elections as an active voter, and the issuance or renewal of documents such as identity card, driver’s license, and passport, which require physical presence or biometrics.
Receiving the benefit with biometric recognition directly at accredited bank branches is also accepted by the system as proof that the insured is present and active to continue receiving the amounts deposited monthly by Social Security.
Those who have not taken any of these actions in recent months may have been identified as pending regularization by the automated system, which is why the institute started sending notifications via WhatsApp with detailed instructions on how to proceed to keep the benefit active.
The modernization was implemented in stages over the past few years, replacing the previous model that required annual in-person visits to bank branches and generated long lines, especially among older beneficiaries and those with reduced mobility spread throughout the interior of Brazil.
How to identify if the notification is legitimate or a scam
The message sent by the government via WhatsApp contains only the communication of the need to carry out the proof of life, without any links to external sites, requests for personal data such as CPF and address, or any type of financial charge to the beneficiary.
When sent to WhatsApp, the notification only asks if the insured wishes to continue receiving information about that government program, and any message with different content should be disregarded and treated as a possible attempt of fraud or electronic scam.
The INSS does not make phone calls and also does not send representatives to beneficiaries’ homes to perform the proof of life, request personal data, or demand any form of payment related to the social security registration update procedure.
This alert is especially important given the increase in scams targeting the elderly in Brazil, who often pose as bank employees, INSS, or federal government officials to obtain sensitive data and make unauthorized bank transfers from victims.
Digital security experts recommend that beneficiaries be wary of any contact that promises to expedite the process, charge fees, or offer help through remote access to the cell phone or computer, common practices in frauds targeting retirees and pensioners across the country.
How to check and regularize the registration status
The verification of the beneficiary’s status, with confirmation that the proof of life is regularized or indication of pending issues, can be done through the Meu INSS app or website, accessing the specific service called Proof of Life in the main menu.
If the registration is up to date, the system will display the date of the last proof of life performed, confirming that the beneficiary does not need to take any additional steps to ensure the continuity of the social security or assistance benefit payments they receive monthly.
Another option available for those who do not have internet access or encounter difficulties with apps is to call the 135 call center, which operates from Monday to Saturday, from 7 am to 10 pm, with attendants prepared to guide on the regularization procedure.
For those who need to regularize their situation in person, the Social Security agencies distributed throughout the country are prepared to assist insured individuals, and it is recommended to schedule in advance through Meu INSS or by calling 135 to avoid long waits at physical units.
The federal government emphasizes that the procedure is completely free on all available channels and that no beneficiary needs to pay any amount to perform the proof of life or regularize their registration status with the INSS in any region of Brazil.
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