Lawsuits regarding INSS (Brazilian Social Security Institute) deductions are increasing at a record rate.
Data sent by the courts to the Supreme Court shows an explosion of lawsuits, while an agreement approved by Toffoli provides for the direct return of the funds.
Lawsuits against improper deductions from the paychecks of retirees and pensioners of the INSS (Brazilian National Social Security Institute) skyrocketed in 2024. According to data from the Regional Federal Courts sent to the Supreme Federal Court (STF), the number of lawsuits increased by 442% compared to the previous year. This information was published by the portal [website name missing]. UOL, in a report by journalist Natalia Portinari.
The surge in complaints occurred amid ongoing investigations by the Federal Police and the Comptroller General of the Union (CGU), which are investigating possible fraud in payroll loans and other unauthorized automatic debits. The flood of lawsuits led Minister Dias Toffoli of the Supreme Federal Court (STF) to suspend all proceedings on the subject until a broader solution could be found.
In July of this year, Toffoli approved an agreement that established the return of funds directly to the accounts of the affected policyholders, without the need to await the judicial outcome. However, according to the agreement, reimbursement is only released to those who waive the lawsuits already filed in court.
The measure aims to reduce the overburdened judicial system and expedite financial compensation for victims, who in many cases faced delays in legal proceedings. The issue remains under monitoring by authorities, who are investigating both the responsibility of financial institutions and possible oversight failures on the part of the INSS itself.
The exponential increase in complaints exposes a structural problem: the vulnerability of beneficiaries to scams and illegal charges. Experts believe that, in addition to reimbursement, it will be necessary to strengthen control and transparency mechanisms to prevent further harm to retirees and pensioners.