Zika Special Pension: How to Apply for the Benefit

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

Families of children with congenital Zika syndrome can apply for a lifetime pension equal to the INSS (Brazil’s National Social Security Institute) benefit ceiling, currently R$ 8.475,55.

Families of children born with a permanent disability caused by congenital Zika virus syndrome can now count on a lifetime special pension paid by the federal government. So far, 1.668 families are receiving the benefit, which equals the Social Security ceiling, currently R$ 8.475,55 per month.

Who Is Eligible

The special pension is for people born in Brazil who have a permanent disability caused by the congenital syndrome associated with the Zika virus. The benefit was created by Law No. 15.156, which also provided for a lump-sum payment of compensation for moral damages (dano moral, meaning non-pecuniary harm such as pain and suffering).

In addition to the monthly amount, the beneficiary is entitled to an annual allowance (equivalent to the 13th-month salary), an annual adjustment based on Social Security indexes, and an exemption from income tax on the benefit.

How Retroactive Payment Is Calculated

If you filed your application before July 2, 2025 (the date the law was published), retroactive payment is calculated from that date. If you applied after the law was published, the benefit is owed from the date of your application.

BPC (Continuous Cash Benefit) recipients must update their CadÚnico (Brazil’s Single Registry for social programs) at least every two years.

This topic is directly related to what we discussed in Deadline to Challenge INSS Deductions Ends March 20.

If you already filed your application in 2025, you do not need to file again. However, if your family already receives payments under a court decision for the same reason, you will have to choose one of the two benefits, because you cannot receive both.

Required Documents

To apply for the special pension, you must submit the following:

For more information on this topic, see our firm’s article on the Deadline to Challenge INSS Deductions Ends Friday.

• Identification and CPF (Brazilian taxpayer ID number) for the child and the legal representative
• Supplementary test results and medical reports proving congenital Zika syndrome
• A medical report issued by a medical board (public or private), including the patient’s identification, the clinical diagnosis, a record of the disability according to Ministry of Health criteria, and the signature and CRM (medical license) number of every physician

How to Apply

You can apply through the Meu INSS app by selecting the service “Parcela única e pensão especial, síndrome congênita do vírus Zika” (lump sum and special pension, congenital Zika virus syndrome). You can also call Central 135. You do not need to go to an INSS office unless the INSS expressly summons you.

Documents must be submitted in digital format (PDF or image), with a limit of 5 MB per file and 50 MB in total. The documents must be legible and in color.

The BPC is an assistance benefit that does not require prior contributions to the INSS, unlike social security benefits. To qualify, you must show that per capita family income is below one quarter of the minimum wage. For people with disabilities, the INSS carries out a social assessment as well as a medical assessment to verify that the requirements are met.

Since Decree 11.016/2022 took effect, the definition of family used to calculate per capita income for the BPC has changed in important ways. The family group now includes the applicant, the spouse or partner, the parents (when the applicant is a minor), siblings and children who are minors or legally incapacitated, and a stepmother or stepfather. Other income, such as a BPC already received by another family member, is not counted.

BPC recipients must update their CadÚnico at least every two years. Failing to do so can result in suspension of the benefit. The update is done in person at the CRAS (Social Assistance Reference Center) in the municipality where you live.

Compensation for Moral Damages and the Appeal Process

In addition to the lifetime monthly pension, Law No. 15.156 also provides for a lump-sum payment of compensation for moral damages to the families of children affected by congenital Zika syndrome. This compensation recognizes the suffering caused by the epidemic and the permanent limitations imposed on the child and the family. The amount and the eligibility criteria are set out in specific regulations, and you can request it together with the special pension through Meu INSS.

If your application for the special pension is denied, your family has the right to file an administrative appeal with the Social Security Appeals Council (CRPS) within 30 days of being notified of the decision. The appeal must state its grounds and include additional documentation that strengthens the diagnosis and the link to the Zika virus. If the administrative appeal is also denied, you can go to court, where the judge may order a new medical examination by an independent professional.

The quality of your medical documentation is decisive for the success of your application. Reports that contain only a generic diagnosis, without describing the child’s specific functional limitations, tend to be insufficient. Ideally, the medical board’s report should detail the clinical manifestations observed, such as microcephaly, brain calcifications, and vision or hearing impairments, and should specify the causal link to Zika virus infection during pregnancy.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is eligible for the Zika special pension?

The pension is owed to people born in Brazil who have a permanent disability caused by congenital Zika virus syndrome, under Law No. 13.985/2020. The benefit is paid for life and does not require proof of family income.

How do I apply for the special pension for the first time?

You must apply through the Meu INSS app, selecting “Parcela única e pensão especial, síndrome congênita do vírus Zika,” or through Central 135. Your application must include a medical board report proving the disability is related to Zika.

If I already receive the pension, do I need to do anything?

If you already filed your application in 2025, you do not need to file a new one. However, if your family also receives court-ordered compensation for the same reason, you will have to choose one of the two benefits, because you cannot receive both.

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