Extending Auxílio-Doença: A Complete Step-by-Step Guide

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

Extending your auxílio-doença (sickness benefit) requires close attention to deadlines and the right paperwork at INSS (Brazil’s National Social Security Institute). Securing each step of the process lowers the risk that your benefit will be interrupted.

What Extending the Auxílio-Doença Means

The auxílio-doença, technically called the temporary disability benefit (auxílio por incapacidade temporária) since Law 14.331/2022, is granted by INSS when an insured person is unable to work for more than 15 consecutive days. However, the benefit does not last forever. It has a set end date, established in the original grant decision or in the discharge date the medical examiner scheduled.

Starting your extension request at least 15 days in advance lowers the risk of the benefit being wrongly cut off during the medical examination process.

If you have not recovered by the time the granted period ends, you must request an extension before it expires. Most denied extensions result from late requests or incomplete documentation, both problems that good organization can fully prevent.

An extension is not automatic. INSS requires a new medical examination or, depending on the case, a review of your documents. Understanding this process is the first step toward keeping your income steady while you recover.

When and How to Request an Extension

You must file the extension request before your current benefit ends. We recommend starting the process at least 15 days ahead, so that any medical examination can be scheduled before the benefit expires.

The available channels are:

• Meu INSS app (available for Android and iOS)
• Meu INSS portal, meu.inss.gov.br
• Central 135, the phone line for people without internet access
• INSS office, by appointment only

In the app or portal, the path is: Solicitar Benefício por Incapacidade > Prorrogação de Benefício por Incapacidade Temporária (Request Disability Benefit > Extension of Temporary Disability Benefit). The system asks for your personal data, your CPF (Brazil’s individual taxpayer ID number), and information about your current benefit.

Documents You Need for the Extension

Gathering the right documents is decisive for the success of your request. These are the documents most often required at extension examinations:

• Updated medical certificate, issued no more than 30 days earlier, with the CID (International Classification of Diseases code), a description of the illness, the treatment under way, and the prognosis
• Recent supporting tests, including reports, MRIs, blood counts, and any other tests that prove the incapacity continues
• Treating physician’s report, a document describing your clinical progress and explaining why you need to stay off work
• Prescriptions for the medications you are taking, which support your treatment
• Photo ID and CPF
• Benefit number (NB) of your current benefit

For psychiatric conditions such as depression or anxiety, a detailed psychiatric report is especially important. The examiner needs objective evidence to assess an incapacity that does not show up on imaging tests.

The Extension Examination: What to Expect

After you file the request, INSS schedules an in-person medical examination or, in some cases, a remote one (teleperícia). On the day, you should bring all of your original documents and be prepared to describe precisely the functional limitations you experience in daily life.

Many insured people underestimate how important it is to describe their day-to-day difficulties clearly. Examples include being unable to sit for long periods, trouble walking, difficulty concentrating, or needing a caregiver. These details directly influence the examiner’s assessment.

That said, it is just as important not to exaggerate or falsify anything. Examiners are trained to spot inconsistencies, and any mismatch between your medical report and your own account can hurt the outcome.

To better understand how INSS medical examinations work, including the online format, read our article on INSS remote medical examinations (teleperícia).

Extension Denied: Your Options

If INSS denies the extension and you still consider yourself unable to work, you have administrative and judicial options.

On the administrative side, you can file an appeal with the CRPS (Brazil’s Social Security Appeals Council) within 30 days of being notified of the decision. The appeal must be supported by medical documentation that contradicts or supplements the examiner’s assessment.

When the situation is urgent and the documentation is strong, however, many insured people choose to go to court, asking for a preliminary injunction (tutela antecipada) to reinstate the benefit while the case is pending. In that situation, the help of a lawyer who specializes in social security law is essential.

Before taking any more drastic step, though, it is advisable to check whether your treating physician can provide additional documentation that would justify a new administrative request.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does INSS take to process an extension request?

The legal deadline for review is 45 days. In practice, though, the medical examination may be scheduled anywhere from 15 to 30 days after you file, depending on your area. For that reason, we recommend filing at least 15 days before your current benefit ends, to avoid an improper interruption in payment.

Can I extend the auxílio-doença without a new medical examination?

In certain situations, INSS may grant the extension based on a review of your documents, without requiring you to attend an examination in person. This happens especially with serious illnesses or when getting around is difficult. However, that decision belongs solely to INSS, and as a general rule you should be prepared for an in-person or remote examination.

What happens if the benefit expires before the extension examination is scheduled?

If you filed before the benefit expired and INSS has not yet held the examination, the benefit may be kept in place provisionally until the review is done. Even so, this situation calls for active follow-up, because system errors can cause an interruption. If your payment is wrongly suspended, you can ask for reinstatement, either administratively or in court.

Auxílio-Doença vs. Disability Retirement in 2026.

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