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Pension question, Brazil

How many contributions do I need for an INSS age pension?

The INSS holds a contribution record under your CPF, where an age pension needs 180 monthly contributions, the carencia set by Law 8.213/1991, and nothing partial is paid below it. A benefit can be granted only once the minimum number of monthly contributions required for that specific benefit (periodo de carencia) has been accumulated.

What to do next

  1. Find your CPF number on old Brazilian papers.
  2. Count your months of INSS contributions from payslips or a CNIS extract.
  3. Run our free check to see which countries may hold a pension in your name.

Check your own working life for free

Tell us where you worked. The free check shows which countries may hold a pension for you, and which can be ruled out and why. No sign in, no charge.

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Questions people also ask

Is there a second account in my name?

Separately, Caixa Economica Federal holds an FGTS account in your name, funded by employer deposits of 8 per cent of salary, and it exists whatever your contribution total.

  • Source: gov.br/inss, planalto.gov.br and fgts.gov.br, read 4 October 2026

Do you give advice on what to do?

No. We identify where a pension is likely held and the official route to it, and we name each source with the date we read it. We do not give financial, tax or legal advice.