Relatives and victims of Covid-19 can apply for INSS benefits
Few people know, but workers who contracted COVID-19 or their family members can apply for benefits from the INSS (National Institute of Social Security).
Advertisements
So, among the benefits are:
- Sickness benefit – due to temporary disability;
- Disability retirement or partial disability retirement;
- Survivor's pension.
According to the information that has been released, the rule applies to all professionals who contribute to Social Security, whether or not that contribution is related to their work.
Therefore, check below for more information on when you can apply for each of the benefits.
Sickness benefit
The benefit is granted to workers who need to be absent from work for more than 15 days due to illness. To be eligible, the temporary incapacity must be verified through a medical examination.
During the coronavirus pandemic, the first 15 days of sick leave are being paid by the Federal Government.
Previously, the company was responsible for paying the professional during that period.
However, the insured person needs to prove a minimum contribution period of 12 months to be entitled to claim sickness benefits.
Furthermore, the worker must also pay attention to the contributions paid by employers so that the benefit is not denied, in case of future need, due to non-payment by the company.
Workplace accident
This is also one of the INSS benefits that is valid for those professionals who acquired the disease in their work activity, such as health professionals, for example.
However, a decision by the STF (Supreme Federal Court) has paved the way for professionals who maintained their work activity within the company – regardless of their area of expertise – to classify contamination by the new coronavirus as an occupational disease and, thus, guarantee a more attractive INSS (Brazilian National Social Security Institute) benefit.
By classifying COVID-19 as an occupational disease, the worker becomes entitled to full benefits from the first day of infection and has job security for 12 months.
Disability or incapacity retirement
The worker is entitled to this benefit when an expert certifies their inability – whether permanent or temporary – to perform their professional activity.
In addition, the benefit is also provided to those professionals who have suffered serious after-effects that prevent them from returning to work.
Survivor's pension
In the event of the insured person's death due to COVID-19, one of the INSS benefits that family members can claim is the survivor's pension from INSS.
Therefore, if the illness is work-related, the calculation will be 100% on the benefit salary, and there is no minimum number of contributions required for payment.
However, if it is not work-related, the initial value is 50% plus 10% for each dependent.
How to order?
The insured person can schedule an in-person medical examination at one of the INSS agencies, by calling 135 or through the website. My INSS.
During the pandemic, workers can receive emergency sick pay, where they will be paid a minimum wage per month, and then the INSS (Brazilian National Social Security Institute) will pay the difference in amounts.
Therefore, for this to be possible, a medical certificate must be submitted proving that the person is ill and what any complications may be present.
Furthermore, the document must be signed by the doctor, without any erasures, and must be within the period of leave.
