Retirement based on length of service: what has changed?

A retirement by length of service has undergone significant changes in recent years, especially after the 2019 Pension Reform, and these changes continue to directly impact the lives of millions of Brazilians in 2025.

Therefore, understanding how these rules have evolved — and what is still possible to do — is crucial to planning a dignified, fair financial future free from unpleasant surprises.

After all, how can we ensure retirement security amid so many changes?

Summary

• Has traditional retirement become extinct?
• What does the 2019 Pension Reform say?
• How transition rules work
• Pension planning: a new challenge
• The importance of time and minimum age
• Practical strategies to bring your retirement forward
• Frequently Asked Questions

Has traditional retirement become extinct?

Yes, the classic model of retirement by length of service, based solely on years of work (35 for men and 30 for women), was officially abolished with the entry into force of Constitutional Amendment No. 103/2019.

The change applies to all policyholders who started contributing after November 2019.

Before that, it was enough to complete the required time to retire, regardless of age. Today, that is no longer possible.

Now, in addition to the contribution period, it is necessary to meet the minimum age or meet one of the transition rules.

The logic is clear: to ensure the sustainability of the social security system in the face of population aging and increased life expectancy.

What does the 2019 Pension Reform say?

With the reform, Brazil aligned its social security structure with international models, adopting a more sustainable perspective from an actuarial point of view.

According to the Ministry of Economy, the main objective of the change was to avoid the financial collapse of the INSS, since, according to the IBGE, the life expectancy of the Brazilian population rose to 77.6 years in 2024 — a trend that should continue in the coming years.

The text of the reform extinguished the right to retirement based solely on contribution time for new insured persons and imposed minimum ages for most benefits.

For those who were already in the system before the reform, five transition rules were created, each with specific conditions.

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This redesign of the system was also necessary because, according to estimates by the Social Security Secretariat, by 2024 more than 70% of the insured persons who requested early retirement presented high risks of financial imbalance in the long term.

How transition rules work

Transition rules are the bridge between the old model and the new one. They guarantee some kind of acquired right or facilitate the adaptation of those who were close to retiring in 2019.

In 2025, five main options remain in force, each with different particularities and calculation methods.

The most widely used is the points system, which adds age and contribution time. In 2025, the required score is 101 points for women and 111 for men.

Another common alternative is a progressive minimum age: each year, the age increases by six months. Currently, the minimum age requirement is 58 years and 6 months for women and 63 years and 6 months for men.

There are also tolls of 50% and 100%, which function as compensation for those who were close to retirement when the reform was implemented.

These tolls add years of work to those missing in 2019. Finally, there is also retirement by age, maintained with some adaptations.

It is worth remembering that each rule has a direct impact on the final value of the benefit.

The calculation formula has also changed, now considering the average of all salaries since July 1994, with the application of a reduction of 60% + 2% to the year exceeding 20 years of contribution (men) or 15 years (women).

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Pension planning: a new challenge

Retirement is no longer an automatic process. Today, it requires technical knowledge, scenario analysis and strategic decisions.

Instead of just “waiting for the time to come”, it is necessary to carry out simulations, monitor INSS statements, identify contribution gaps and even consider monthly or retroactive supplements.

For example, many self-employed or part-time workers do not realize that the amounts they collect are lower than the minimum wage, which can result in time not being counted for retirement purposes. With the new rules, this has become even more critical.

Sites like My INSS are essential in this process. There, the worker can simulate his retirement, check registered formal links, update information and even consult pending documents.

Experts recommend that this monitoring be carried out regularly and proactively.

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The importance of time and minimum age

In the past, Brazilians could retire in their early 50s — they just had to start working early.

This is no longer a reality. From 2025 onwards, retirement will also require workers to reach a minimum age, even if they have contributed for many years.

This new format penalizes, for example, those who started working early and have already reached 35 years of contributions at the age of 53.

If the worker does not meet the minimum age requirement, he will have to continue contributing for longer, even without a significant increase in the benefit amount.

Teacher Ana, for example, began her career at the age of 21. In 2019, she had already contributed for 28 years.

In 2025, with 34 years of INSS and 56 years old, she opted for the transition with a toll of 100%. Despite the accumulated time, she still needed to serve another two years as required by the new model.

However, this guaranteed him full retirement without a reduction factor.

Practical strategies to bring your retirement forward

The scenario may seem rigid, but there are legal alternatives to make retirement more advantageous — and even bring it forward in some cases.

One of the most efficient strategies is to supplement late contributions for periods worked, when there is proof.

Another tactic is hybrid planning, which combines public retirement with private pension investments.

With the end of the old retirement by length of service, the worker began to have more responsibility for his own future income.

Choosing a private plan with real profitability above inflation can make a huge difference in old age.

Furthermore, workers who work in special conditions (with exposure to harmful agents or risky activities) can still apply for special retirement, with a shorter period of time and no minimum age requirement — although technical proof of the right requires attention and updated reports.

The Financial Narrative of Time

Making a simple analogy, planning for retirement today is like putting together a thousand-piece puzzle without the cover image.

Every decision, every period worked, every correct (or forgotten) contribution influences the final image. The challenge is to organize the right pieces, in the right order, at the right time.

And, unlike board games, you can't start from scratch here. So, postponing this planning could cost you years of extra work — or hundreds of dollars less per month in retirement.

According to research by the Institute of Social Security Studies (IEPREV), between 2020 and 2024, more than 38% of retirement applications were denied due to lack of documents or errors in calculating the contribution period.

A worrying number, especially for the most financially vulnerable.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Can I still retire with 35 years of contributions?
Only if you started contributing before 11/13/2019 and meet some transition rule. Otherwise, you will also need to meet the minimum age.

2. Is it worth paying late INSS?
Yes, especially if there are gaps in periods when you actually worked. But you need to prove the activity with documents, contracts or invoices.

3. Does private pension help in calculating INSS retirement?
Not directly. But it is a smart way to guarantee additional income, especially in times of pension uncertainty.

4. Can someone who works as an MEI retire normally?
Yes, as long as the payments are regular and sufficient. The simplified MEI plan guarantees access to the minimum benefit, but it is possible to supplement it.

5. Is there any way to bring forward retirement in 2025?
The only legal way is through transitional rules, special retirement or disability. Planning is the key to taking advantage of the best possible option.

Conclusion: the future demands action in the present

A retirement by length of service has changed profoundly, and with it the role of the worker in this process has also changed.

Instead of just waiting, it is now necessary to act, plan, check, review and — if necessary — make up for lost time.

Ignoring these changes means risking working more than necessary or earning less than you could. And no one wants to find out too late.

As Warren Buffett once said, “Someone is sitting in the shade today because someone planted a tree a long time ago.”

Your future depends on what you plant now.

To better understand your options, the Social Security portal and the official website of INSS offer reliable and up-to-date tools.

Use technology to your advantage and make more informed decisions about your retirement rights.