Understand why the INSS cut Fernanda Montenegro’s retirement and pension

The benefits of Fernanda Montenegroreferring to the retirement and death pension left by her husband, also actor Fernando Montenegro, were cut by the INSS between the years 2019 and 2022.

And the reason, informed by the National Social Security Institute, was because the actress nominated for an Oscar in 1998 for the film Central Brazil was unable to confirm the so-called “proof of life” procedure during this period – which included the Covid-19 pandemic from 2020 onwards.

The story gained traction on social media throughout the week precisely because of the public figure of the actress, who was very active during the period in which she was without benefits – in fact, in 2021, she was elected immortal by the Brazilian Academy of Letters.

O Estadão contacted the INSS, which justified the action in a note reproduced below.

Proof of life, abolished in 2023, required the beneficiary to go to the bank branch where the benefit was paid, in the month of the birthday, annually. Since 2023, however, it has been up to the institute to gather information with other government data to confirm who is alive.

O Estadão tried to contact Fernanda Montenegro, but received no response. The space remains open.