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Retirement Suspended Due to INSS Error Leaves 97-Year-Old Without Income; Social Security Benefit Reactivated After New Life Certification.
The suspended retirement of a 97-year-old man has once again exposed flaws in the systems of the INSS after the agency confused a living insured with his deceased twin brother.
The case involves Walter Rodrigues de Almeida, a resident of Rio de Janeiro, who had his social security benefit interrupted for the fourth time and went approximately four months without receiving the amount he is entitled to.
According to the institute, the retirement has been reactivated, and payment should occur within 20 days.
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The suspension occurred in September 2025, when the INSS system mistakenly identified a supposed death of the insured.
Since Walter and his twin brother shared the same parents, surname, and date of birth, the error was repeated.
Thus, the elderly man had to once again prove that he was alive, going through another life certification, a mandatory procedure for maintaining payment.
INSS Confirms Reactivation of Social Security Benefit
After the case gained attention, the National Institute of Social Security informed Estadão that the suspended retirement has been regularized.
According to the agency, the amounts owed will be deposited into the insured’s account within 20 days.
Despite this, the family claims that the problem could have been avoided with more efficient data control.
Walter has been without payment since September 5, 2025, during which he had to rely on assistance from relatives to cover basic expenses.
Family Reports Emotional Strain and Excessive Bureaucracy
While awaiting regularization, the family had to take the elderly man to an INSS agency in Ramos, in the northern zone of Rio, last Tuesday, the 13th.
At the location, the staff informed that the case was still under review and advised opening a new request.
The official response only arrived days later.
However, for the relatives, the process revealed a serious flaw in the agency’s control system, especially in cases involving elderly retirement, a group more vulnerable to the impacts of income interruption.
Daughter Criticizes System and Questions Control by CPF
Walter’s daughter, Elaine Almeida, expressed indignation over the situation. According to her, the justification presented by the INSS is not convincing.
“They say that since his brother was a twin, Waldir, it raised a death suspicion on him, Walter.
And I said: ‘Isn’t control done by CPF? The numbers are different.’ I feel very sad, outraged, as my father comes back from the bank devastated, and I as a daughter can’t do anything. I can only help him.
But resolving his situation, I can’t,” she said to TV Globo.
The account reinforces the perception that administrative errors can have deep consequences for families that depend exclusively on the benefit.
Suspended Retirement Affects Expenses and Purchase of Medications
Walter uses the retirement mainly for basic expenses, such as food and ongoing medication.
During the months without payment, his financial situation became even more delicate.
“I have been without receiving for four months and I have the right to receive. I don’t know why this is happening,” said the elderly man.
At another time, he emphasized the difficulties he faced while waiting for the problem to be resolved.
“I have my expenses, I am 97 years old, I live with my son, but I have to pay my expenses.
I have already submitted all necessary and requested documents; I have submitted everything,” he said.
Life Certification and Recurring Flaws in the System
The life certification is a procedure created to prevent fraud and undue payments.
However, cases like Walter’s show that errors in data cross-referencing can have the opposite effect, improperly suspending a legitimate social security benefit.
Experts in social security law warn that very elderly individuals tend to face more difficulties resolving administrative issues, especially when they need to travel to physical agencies.
Case Rekindles Debate on INSS Modernization
Although the INSS has confirmed the reactivation of the suspended retirement, the episode rekindles the debate on the need for modernization of systems and improvement of data verification criteria.
For families like Walter’s, the solution has arrived, but after months of emotional strain and financial insecurity.
Now, the elderly man awaits the promised deposit, while the family hopes that the error does not occur again.
Read more about it at: Retirement of 97-Year-Old Man Cut for the 4th Time Due to Error
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