Brazil's Instituto Nacional do Seguro Social (INSS) is initiating the payment of pensions and other benefits for February 2025 amid adjustments to its schedule due to the upcoming Carnaval holiday. Starting from Monday, February 24, beneficiaries will receive their payments based on the ending digits of their benefit cards. This year's Carnaval festivities, which will take place from March 1 to March 5, necessitate alterations to the usual payment timeline, affecting millions of pensioners and retirees.
The INSS has structured the payment schedule to accommodate the holiday, which prominently impacts banking operations across Brazil. According to the new calendar released by INSS, individuals receiving up to one minimum wage will begin receiving payments on the following grid:
- Final 1 — February 24
- Final 2 — February 25
- Final 3 — February 26
- Final 4 — February 27
- Final 5 — February 28
- Final 6 — March 6
- Final 7 — March 7
- Final 8 — March 10
- Final 9 — March 11
- Final 0 — March 12
For beneficiaries earning above the minimum wage, payments will commence on:
- Finais 1 e 6 — March 6
- Finais 2 e 7 — March 7
- Finais 3 e 8 — March 10
- Finais 4 e 9 — March 11
- Finais 5 e 0 — March 12
Due to the carnaval, payment operations will cease on March 3 and 4, without any transactions executed, as INSS branches and banks will be closed for the celebrations. The funding is set to resume on March 6, where normal operations will continue. On the day after Carnaval, known as Quarta-Feira de Cinzas (Ash Wednesday), banks will operate partially from midday, catering predominantly to pre-scheduled appointments.
The recent adjustments come as part of broader organizational measures established by the INSS, which defines its annual payment calendar each December. The momentum for this year was announced on December 17, 2024, with no expected delays reported. Beneficiaries should remain vigilant of the payment calendar as it influences their financial management particularly during months which feature holidays.
According to Cláudia Abdul Ahad Securato from Securato & Abdul Ahad Advogados, the situation surrounding the fifth business day falling on different dates dependent on regional holiday observances is noteworthy. “For regions where Carnaval is officially recognized as holiday, the fifth day will fall on March 10,” she explained, adding, “On the other hand, for the rest, it stays on March 6.”
She also noted the significant role of employers, who are expected to honor Article 459 of the Consolidation of Labor Laws (CLT) by compensatively paying employees no later than the fifth working day. This pressure extends also to public sectors, which depend on scheduled payments and operational liquidity.
Beneficiaries are encouraged to access their payments through digital channels such as the Meu INSS mobile app or official website. The INSS has advised the utilization of its automated telephone line, 135, available for inquiries 24/7. Limited human assistance will be available on specific days around the Carnaval holidays from early morning to later afternoon.
Secure online services play a pivotal role during this period, as the INSS has reiterated the importance of using these tools—factoring both convenience and safety due to the anticipated closures of physical branches and banking paths during the holiday.
Looking beyond February, it is imperative not only for the retirees but for every stakeholder involved, from local employers to the centralized federal systems, to stay informed and prepared as the potential for future fiscal challenges loom with economic uncertainties. The effective management of the INSS schedule reflects the significant impact holiday observances hold on the social security framework.