INSS Opens 37,000 Appointment Slots for Weekend Service Drives

This page is a translation of the original Portuguese text, provided for convenience. It deals with Brazilian law. If there is any discrepancy, the Portuguese version prevails. Read the original in Portuguese

INSS (Brazil’s National Social Security Institute) opened about 37,000 appointment slots for special service drives, known as mutirões, on March 28 and 29, 2026, offering medical examinations and social assessments in a number of Brazilian cities.

What the INSS Mutirões Are

INSS opened about 37,000 appointment slots for mutirões (special service drives) held on March 28 and 29 in a number of cities across Brazil. The services include medical examinations, carried out in partnership with the Ministry of Social Security, and social assessments conducted by INSS staff.

The mutirões aim to shorten the waiting list of insured persons who are waiting for medical examinations and social assessments needed to receive social security and social assistance benefits. This effort matters because social security law sets deadlines for reviewing benefit applications, under Article 41-A, § 5º, of Law 8.213/91, and delays in the examination can harm insured persons who rely on the benefit to support themselves.

In practice, the mutirões supplement the regular service at INSS offices and help meet the legal deadlines for granting benefits. For disability benefits, the medical examination is a mandatory step under Article 42 of Law 8.213/91, and without it the application stays on hold. For the BPC/LOAS (Brazil’s means-tested benefit for people with disabilities and older adults in need), a social assessment is also required by the applicable legislation.

How to Schedule Your Appointment

You can check slot availability and schedule an appointment through two channels:

• The Meu INSS app (available for Android and iOS)
• The 135 phone line

It is important to check in advance whether slots are available in the city you want, since the distribution varies by region. Scheduling ahead guarantees priority service.

The Northeast has the largest share of the slots, with 18,364 appointments spread across eight states.

When you schedule, have your CPF (Brazil’s individual taxpayer ID number) and your benefit number on hand. If you have trouble with the digital channels, you can ask for help in person at an INSS office during regular business hours.

Distribution of Slots by Region

The Northeast has the largest share of the slots, with 18,364 appointments spread across eight states. The standouts are Ceará (4,426 slots), Piauí (2,950), Bahia (2,495), and Maranhão (2,359).

In the Southeast, there are 7,030 slots in total, led by Rio de Janeiro (4,328 appointments), São Paulo (1,378), and Minas Gerais (1,324).

The North offers 5,879 slots, led by Pará with 2,756 appointments. Amazonas has 1,225 slots, followed by Tocantins (932) and Rondônia (682).

In the South, Paraná offers 2,737 slots in six locations. The Center-West has 1,974 slots, divided among Goiás (858), the Federal District (808), and Mato Grosso do Sul (308).

Which Services Are Available

At the mutirões, insured persons can have medical examinations for disability benefit applications, social assessments for the BPC/LOAS, and other social security services. The service is intended mainly for people who already have an appointment, but walk-in requests may be accepted depending on availability.

For insured persons waiting for a medical examination to receive a temporary disability benefit, the mutirões are a chance to speed up the process. For BPC/LOAS applicants, the social assessment checks the income and household composition criteria required by law.

Documents You Need for Your Appointment

You should bring the following documents to the mutirão: a photo ID (RG or CNH, the national ID card or driver’s license), your CPF, your work card (if you have one), your benefit award letter or benefit number, and, for a disability examination, recent medical reports and test results.

For BPC/LOAS social assessments, you must present an up-to-date proof of residence and documents for every member of the household, since the analysis looks at the household’s per capita income as provided in Decree 6.214/2007.

Why Take Part in the Mutirões

The mutirões are an opportunity for people who have trouble getting an appointment during the week or who have been waiting a long time for a medical examination. Saturday and Sunday service widens access, especially for workers who cannot take time off on weekdays.

Besides the convenience of weekend service, the mutirões usually have reinforced staff, which can make the process faster than regular weekday service at INSS offices.

Keep in mind that if your benefit is denied after an examination at a mutirão, you have the right to file an administrative appeal within 30 days, under Article 305 of Decree 3.048/99. For that reason, it is important to keep your appointment receipt and all the documents you submitted.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who can take part in the INSS mutirões?

Any INSS insured person who needs a medical examination or social assessment can take part in the mutirões. You must schedule in advance through the Meu INSS app or the 135 phone line. Priority goes to people who already have a benefit application under review and are waiting for an in-person appointment.

How can I check whether slots are available in my city?

You can check for slots directly in the Meu INSS app, in the scheduling section, or by calling 135. The system shows the dates, times, and locations available for each type of service in your area.

Can I take part in a mutirão without scheduling in advance?

Although the service is intended mainly for people who already have an appointment, walk-in requests may be accepted depending on slot availability at the site. Even so, scheduling in advance is strongly recommended to make sure you are seen.

As informações deste artigo são de caráter informativo e não substituem consulta jurídica individualizada. Cada caso possui particularidades que exigem análise específica.