INSS faces 4.5 million court cases as new lawsuits rise in Brazil

More people in Brazil are taking the INSS, the country’s social security agency, to court.

Courts received 2.24 million new cases against it in 2026, 21% more than in the same period a year earlier.

Some people sue after the agency denies a benefit, and audits have found problems in some denials.

The rising number of cases adds to the courts’ workload and can delay decisions for people seeking benefits.