Government expected a reduction of R$10 billion in irregular aid in 2024; savings was up to R$6 billion
The president of the (National Social Security Institute), Alessandro Stefanutto, said, in an interview with Poder360that the fine-tooth comb in social security benefits saved R$6 billion to the government (PT) in 2024. The amount is lower than that promised (R$ 10 billion) by the economic team.
The INSS was the main source of public spending cuts last year. The government’s objective was to review irregular beneficiaries of sickness benefit (temporary incapacity benefit) and disability retirement (permanent incapacity benefit). The agency’s fine-tooth comb, however, did not result in the expected savings.
The review is carried out by , created in 2023 by the INSS so that policyholders can request temporary disability benefits through an analysis of documents, without the need for an in-person medical examination.
Stefanutto said that the INSS did not have all the tools at its disposal, such as artificial intelligence, to optimize document analysis.
Atestmed reduces the time a person is away from work, because there is a more rigorous periodic analysis, according to the president of the INSS. The tool allows for the recording of certificates, and can also identify the report of doctors who grant the document as less rigorous.
Stefanutto said that the tool also made it possible to release the benefit more quickly to the insured. “Atestmed brought savings [de recursos], helped the person receive the benefit in a timely manner”, he declared.
In 2025, the INSS will have the help of artificial intelligence to check those beneficiaries who should not receive the amounts. The body evaluates, for example, the medical certificate number “funny” which was granted by doctors to policyholders.
In addition to artificial intelligence, the INSS transferred 150 public employees to the MOB (Operational Benefit Movement). “These improvements end up helping you make the savings you committed to with the government”he declared.
In 2025, the economic team will save R$10.5 billion with some measures. Here are the projections:
- precautionary measures and implementation of the Atestmed system – R$7.3 billion;
- reassessment of disability benefits – R$3.2 billion.
The president of INSS gave an interview to Poder360 on Friday (17.Jan.2025). He was appointed to the position on July 5, 2023, replacing , who held the position on an interim basis. The agency is linked to the Ministry of Social Security, headed by .
LONGER BENEFITS
According to Stefanutto, the reevaluation of disability benefits was the least profitable for the federal government in terms of spending review. Longer grants have been subject to examinations since October.
“In these cases of longer benefits, around 55% were found to have [os segurados] They were no longer able to stay on the benefit, and the benefit was cancelled.”he said. He stated that it enabled savings of close to R$2.7 billion. “Adding Atestmed and that, it amounted to R$5 billion to R$6 billion [em 2024]. We had committed to R$10 billion, but we were also unable to count on tools, such as artificial intelligence”these.
