Age-Based Transition Rule: Updated Table

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

The age-based transition rule is one of the options most sought by insured workers who were close to retiring when the Social Security Reform (Constitutional Amendment 103/2019) took effect. This guide presents the updated table with the minimum ages required year by year, so you know exactly when you can apply for the benefit.

How the age-based transition rule works

Before the Reform, retirement by age required women to be 60 and men to be 65, with at least 15 years of contributions to the INSS (Brazil’s National Social Security Institute). Under Constitutional Amendment 103/2019, the minimum age for women began rising by six months each year until it reached 62 in 2023.

The age-based transition rule keeps the contribution requirement at 15 years for both sexes, which can be more advantageous than the permanent rule for men with fewer than 20 years of contributions.

This transition rule was created to protect people who were already contributing before November 2019. Unlike the permanent rule, which requires 62 years of age for women and 65 for men, with 15 and 20 years of contributions respectively, the age-based transition rule kept the minimum contribution period at 15 years for both sexes.

Insured persons should check the date they began contributing carefully, because those who started contributing before the Reform are entitled to this more favorable rule.

Updated table: minimum age by year

Below is how the minimum age required of women has progressed under the age-based transition rule. For men, the age stayed at 65 throughout the entire period:

Beginning in 2023, the age-based transition rule reached its endpoint for women, matching the permanent rule on minimum age. Even so, the advantage remains in the contribution period: only 15 years for those covered by the transition rule.

Full requirements for 2026

To apply for retirement under the age-based transition rule in 2026, the insured person must meet the following requirements:

Many insured persons confuse contribution time with the carência. The carência is the minimum number of monthly contributions actually paid, while contribution time can include periods recognized by a court, such as rural work or converted special-conditions work.

How the benefit amount is calculated

The calculation of retirement under the age-based transition rule follows the formula introduced by the Reform:

First, you calculate the average of all contribution salaries since July 1994 (or since contributions began, if later). The benefit amount equals 60% of that average, plus 2% for each year of contributions beyond 15 years (women) or 15 years (men, under the transition rule).

This means that a woman with exactly 15 years of contributions will receive 60% of the salary average. To reach 100% of the average, she would need 35 years of contributions. You should always have a retirement plan prepared to determine whether it is worth continuing to contribute before applying for the benefit.

Difference between the transition rule and the permanent rule

The main difference is the contribution period required of men. Under the permanent rule (for those who began contributing after the Reform), men need 20 years of contributions. Under the transition rule, 15 years is enough.

For women, the minimum age and contribution period have been identical under both rules since 2023. However, the transition rule can produce a different calculation depending on the contribution history, because the calculation rules take into account all contributions since July 1994.

Every case deserves individual analysis. A Social Security attorney can simulate the scenarios and identify the most advantageous rule, taking into account special-conditions work, rural periods and other variables that affect the final amount.

Documents needed to apply

To file for retirement under the age-based transition rule, you need to gather the following:

A photo ID and your CPF (Brazil’s individual taxpayer number); your work card (paper or digital) showing all employment relationships; contribution payment slips (for self-employed or voluntary contributors); your CNIS (National Social Information Registry) statement; and supporting documents such as a certificate of service time, the PPP (Social Security Occupational Profile) for special-conditions periods, or a declaration of rural activity.

You should check your CNIS in advance through the Meu INSS app or website (the INSS’s online portal), correcting any discrepancies before filing your application. This avoids requests for additional documents and delays in the review of your benefit.

If you need help organizing your documents or checking for gaps in your CNIS, schedule a consultation with the legal team specializing in Social Security law.

Retirement planning: is it worth waiting?

Applying for retirement as soon as you reach the minimum age is not always the best decision. In many cases, contributing for a few more years can significantly increase the benefit amount.

We often see situations in which an insured person who waits two or three more years gains an increase of 4% to 6% over the salary average. Accumulated over the years of receiving the benefit, this gain can make a significant difference in lifetime income.

On the other hand, there are cases in which waiting does not pay off, especially when the insured person is already of advanced age or has health problems. Retirement planning is the right tool for making this decision with confidence.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is entitled to the age-based transition rule?

Any insured person who was already affiliated with the INSS before November 13, 2019, the date the Social Security Reform took effect, is entitled to it. You must meet the minimum age (62 for women, 65 for men) and have at least 15 years of contributions.

Is the age-based transition rule still valid in 2026?

Yes, the rule remains valid in 2026. Although the progression of the minimum age for women was completed in 2023 (62 years), the transition rule remains in force as an option for those who were insured before the Reform, keeping the contribution period at 15 years for both sexes.

What is the difference in contribution period between the transition rule and the permanent rule?

Under the transition rule, the minimum contribution period is 15 years for both men and women. Under the permanent rule, women need 15 years, but men who began contributing after the Reform need 20 years. This 5-year difference can be decisive for men with a shorter contribution history.

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