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Biometrics will become mandatory starting May 1, 2026, for new requests for Bolsa Família, unemployment insurance, salary allowance, and INSS benefits such as sickness assistance and death pension, with the CIN as the central document and exemptions for seniors over 80 years old and residents of remote areas.
If you plan to apply for a new social or pension benefit in Brazil starting in May, you need to be aware of a change that will affect millions of people. According to information from the portal NDMAIS, biometrics have become mandatory for new requests for Bolsa Família, unemployment insurance, salary allowance, temporary incapacity assistance (the former sickness assistance), maternity leave, and death pension starting May 1, 2026. Those who do not have their biometric registration up to date simply will not be able to proceed with their request.
The measure is part of the spending cut package approved by the National Congress and regulated by presidential decree. The goal is to combat fraud that has historically drained resources from social security. According to the Ministry of Management, about 84% of the 68 million beneficiaries already have biometrics registered in some official database, such as the CNH, voter registration, or the National Identity Card (CIN). The remaining 16% need to regularize their status to avoid facing closed doors. And the deadline is already running.
What changes starting in May with mandatory biometrics
The rule is straightforward. Starting May 1, 2026, anyone applying for a new request for Bolsa Família, unemployment insurance, salary allowance, or temporary incapacity benefit at the INSS will need to have biometrics registered in at least one of the three accepted documents: the CIN (National Identity Card), the CNH, or the voter registration.
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If a person does not have biometrics in any of these documents, they will be required to issue the CIN before proceeding with the request.
For those who already receive benefits, the situation is different. There will be no immediate blocking. Biometrics for current beneficiaries will be required gradually, with individual summons throughout 2026 and 2027, always with prior notice via SMS, email, the Meu INSS app, or registered letter.
The INSS emphasizes that the implementation will be progressive and that no active payment will be automatically cut off due to lack of biometrics.
However, those who are summoned and do not appear within the 90-day deadline may have their benefits suspended until regularization.
The complete biometrics schedule until 2028
The government has established three milestones for the complete transition. On May 1, 2026, biometrics will become mandatory for all new requests for Bolsa Família, unemployment insurance, salary allowance, and INSS incapacity benefits. On January 1, 2027, the requirement will also extend to renewals and maintenance of existing benefits.
And on January 1, 2028, the CIN will become the only document with biometrics accepted for any service or maintenance of benefits at the INSS.
In practice, this means that the National Identity Card will completely replace the old state RG as an identification document for social security purposes. The CIN uses the CPF as a unique number and already includes biometric data collection at the time of issuance.
The first copy is free. Those who do not yet have biometrics in any official registration and intend to request benefits starting in May need to issue the CIN as soon as possible.
Does someone who already has biometrics in the CNH or voter registration need to do anything?
If you already have biometrics registered with the TSE (through voter registration) or with the Detran (through the CNH), you can relax for now.
The government will utilize existing databases to validate the identity of beneficiaries, without the need for an immediate new registration. You can check if your biometric data is registered through the Digital Traffic Wallet app or the TSE website.
However, pay attention to the final deadline. Starting January 2028, the CIN will be the only document with biometrics accepted by the INSS. This means that even those who currently have biometrics in the CNH or voter registration will eventually need to issue the National Identity Card.
The recommendation is not to leave it until the last minute. Issuing the CIN requires online scheduling on your state’s identification portal, and demand tends to grow as deadlines approach.
Who is exempt from mandatory biometrics
The new rule was designed not to harm the most vulnerable groups or those with difficulties accessing technology.
The following are exempt from mandatory biometrics: people over 80 years old, migrants, refugees, and stateless persons, Brazilians residing abroad (via consular declaration), people with mobility difficulties due to health or disability (with medical documentation), and residents of remote or hard-to-reach areas, as defined by the IBGE.
For seniors over 80 years old, identity can be verified by a photo document or consultations with official registries.
For residents of remote areas, the government will publish a specific list of exempt municipalities, which includes locations served by the INSS PREVBarco and municipalities classified as very remote by the IBGE Accessibility Index.
These exemptions apply as long as the government does not provide adequate alternatives for these groups.
How to obtain the CIN and regularize your biometrics
The issuance of the National Identity Card is free for the first copy. The document uses the CPF as a unique number, eliminating the old state RG, and already includes biometric data collection at the time of issuance. To obtain the CIN, it is necessary to schedule online on your state’s identification portal.
On the scheduled day, the citizen must bring their birth or marriage certificate and their physical or digital CPF.
In addition to the CIN, Bolsa Família beneficiaries can update their biometric data at CRAS units or municipal social assistance posts. In the case of the INSS, scheduling can be done through the Meu INSS website or app.
The government’s guidance is clear: do not wait to be summoned. Those who regularize their biometrics early avoid queues, delays, and the risk of having their benefit request stalled at the wrong time.
The new mandatory biometrics rule for Bolsa Família, INSS, and unemployment insurance will come into effect in May and will directly affect those who do not yet have a fingerprint registered in any official document. The schedule extends until 2028, and in the end, the CIN will be the only accepted document.
And you, do you already have your biometrics up to date? Do you know if your registration in the voter registration or CNH is sufficient? Have you issued the new national identity? Share in the comments and help other readers who might be in the same situation.
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