By Iolanda Fonseca
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Deputies are entitled to an average retirement pension of R$14,680.86 (US$3,670) while the average employee pension is R$8,602.42.
Between 2010 and 2018, retirement payments for deputies and pensioners cost the public treasury approximately R$ 1.25 billion (US$312 million), corrected by the IPCA (Broad Consumer Price Index).
Of this total, R$811 million covered the benefits of deputies and another R$440 million were used to pay other pensioners.
Legislators may retire at 60 years of age and after 35 years of social contribution. To complement this time, deputies and senators may also add up contributions made before their term in public and private sector positions.
In the case of having worked in the private sector before, the calculation for the retirement amount is made according to the number of mandates held. As an example, if a deputy has two terms (eight years in total), he is entitled to 8/35 of the salary, approximately R$7,600, 31 percent above the threshold for those who paid into the INSS (R$5,839.45).
If there are three terms (12 years), these are 12/35. In any case, to qualify, one must be 60 years of age (male or female) and have made contributions over 35 years.
Deputies argue in the special committee.
The matter has sparked discussion in the special Social Welfare reform committee.
During party leaders’ speeches at the committee hearing, Deputies Ivan Valente (Psol-SP) and Marcel Van Hattem (Novo-RS) engaged in a massive argument. “Dirty scoundrel,” vented Valente. “Liar,” replied Van Hattem.
According to Valente, the deputy from Rio Grande do Sul attacked him with words. Van Hattem denied that he had done so and said that he only questioned whether the deputy of Psol was part of the Chamber of Deputies’ special retirement scheme.
After the commotion, Valente stated that he is in the Chamber’s special retirement scheme.
Below are the annual amounts spent on retirement for deputies:
2010: R$ 71.773.776,72
2011: R$ 108.788.179,20
2012: R$ 101.802.541,93
2013: R$ 90.726.729,51
2014: R$ 84.776.297,15
2015: R$ 98.139.934,54
2016: R$ 89.271.161,48
2017: R$ 85.573.165,09
2018: R$ 80.031.422,22
Below are the annual amounts spent on pensions for legislators’ staffs:
2010: R$ 35.110.209,13
2011: R$ 51.330.152,86
2012: R$ 52.845.959,29
2013: R$ 50.994.469,98
2014: R$ 47.456.043,89
2015: R$ 53.057.350,38
2016: R$ 52.768.977,77
2017: R$ 49.748.377,56
2018: R$ 46.926.275,54
(Source: UOL)