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International social security · SPD Advocacia

Worked in the United States and Brazil? See how the agreement adds up your time

The agreement between Brazil and the United States lets you add up the time from both countries for some benefits of Brazil's social security institute, INSS. The firm reviews both records, prepares the claim and follows the data exchange with the Social Security Administration.

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What does the Brazil-US agreement cover?

Brazil and the United States signed a social security agreement in 2015, enacted by Decree 9,422/2018 and in force since October 1, 2018. On the Brazilian side, it covers only three benefits: retirement by age, disability retirement and survivor's pension (art. 2). Retirement by length of contribution was left out. The agreement applies to INSS, to the special pension schemes for public servants and to the military scheme.

The sum works both ways. In Brazil, each quarter of coverage certified by the United States counts as three months of contribution (art. 7). INSS calculates a theoretical benefit as if all the time were Brazilian and pays the share of time completed in Brazil. This theoretical amount cannot be lower than the minimum under Brazilian law (art. 7, item 4). In the United States, the Social Security Administration only uses Brazilian time if the person has at least six quarters of US coverage (art. 6).

The agreement also covers people sent to work for a period in the other country. The employee can remain covered by the home country for up to five years, without paying into both systems at once (art. 5). In Brazil, this is proven by the posting certificate (certificado de deslocamento), which the company requests on Meu INSS with form BRA-USA 01. Self-employed workers, as a rule, follow the law of the country where they live. Anyone who receives a benefit and lives in the other country faces no restriction for that reason alone (art. 4).

What the law says

The points that matter most

Three benefits

In Brazil, the agreement covers retirement by age, disability retirement and survivor's pension (art. 2).

Quarters

Each quarter certified in the United States counts as three months in the INSS count (art. 7).

US minimum

The Social Security Administration requires at least six quarters of US coverage to add Brazilian time (art. 6).

Posting

An employee sent abroad for up to five years remains covered by the home country (art. 5).

Source: Decree 9,422/2018 (Brazil-United States Social Security Agreement), arts. 2, 4, 5, 6 and 7; INSS, page on the agreement with the United States and temporary posting certificate service. Content reviewed on October 23, 2026.

What is your case?

Situations the firm handles

Time in both countries

Worked in the US and Brazil

We add up the time for INSS retirement by age.

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Living in the US

Want to claim your INSS benefit from there

The claim can start with the Social Security Administration or on Meu INSS.

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Expatriate

Your company will send you to the US

The posting certificate avoids contributing in both countries.

Decree 9,422/2018, art. 5
Survivor's pension

Dependent of someone who contributed in both countries

The survivor's pension is in the agreement and has its own form, BRA-USA 04.

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Disability

Inability to work

Disability retirement also uses the sum of periods.

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Length of contribution

Thinking of retiring based on time alone

This benefit was left out of the agreement, and we assess other options.

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This page provides general information, does not replace an analysis of the case and there is no guarantee of results.

Step by step

How the firm works

  1. Review. We pull your CNIS (Brazil's contribution record) and your Social Security earnings statement.
  2. Count. We convert the US quarters and simulate each country's share.
  3. Claim. We prepare the application and the agreement forms for INSS.
  4. Follow-up. We follow the data exchange between the two countries, with updates on WhatsApp.
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Case review

Let's look at your case

Answer the questions, one at a time. At the end you can attach documents, which go straight to a folder in the firm's Drive, and send the summary via WhatsApp. Everything is protected by attorney-client confidentiality.

Common questions

Frequently asked questions

Does time in the US count toward retirement by length of contribution?

No. On the Brazilian side, the agreement covers only retirement by age, disability retirement and survivor's pension (art. 2 of Decree 9,422/2018).

How does US time enter the INSS count?

Each quarter of coverage certified by the United States counts as three months (art. 7). INSS pays the share of time completed in Brazil.

Will I receive two benefits?

It can happen. Each country pays its share, calculated under its own law. For the US share, the Social Security Administration requires at least six quarters of US coverage (art. 6).

My company transferred me. Do I need to pay in both countries?

If the posting lasts up to five years, the employee can stay only in the home system, with the posting certificate (art. 5). In Brazil, the company files the request on Meu INSS.

Can someone living in the US receive an INSS benefit?

Yes. The agreement removes restrictions on people living in the other country (art. 4), and INSS has a service to transfer payment to a bank abroad.

How much does it cost?

After the analysis, the firm sends a written fee proposal before any engagement.