A recent proposal by Gilberto Waller Jr., the president of Brazil's National Institute of Social Security (INSS), aims to change the job assignments within the institution, specifically affecting how applications for benefits are analyzed. This change has ignited dissatisfaction among some staff members, who fear that the new structure will hinder the ongoing efforts to reduce the backlog of beneficiaries waiting for their social security benefits. The current waiting list stands at approximately 3.03 million, creating urgency for effective management of applications and reviews.

The proposed decree, which has been sent to the Ministry of Social Security, suggests that tasks related to analyzing requests, revising cases, handling judicial demands, and making changes to beneficiary records will exclusively be the responsibility of social security technicians. This shift is particularly concerning for social security analysts, a minority career group within the INSS, who have been actively engaged in processing applications during an unprecedented surge in the backlog. Analysts currently share responsibilities with technicians for processes related to the recognition of social security rights.

By monopolizing these responsibilities to a single group of technicians, the proposal raises questions about the efficiency and speed of processing claims, especially during times of high demand. Stakeholders within the INSS worry that this policy change could exacerbate wait times for applicants, disrupting the operational dynamics that have been put in place to manage the large number of outstanding claims. The potential ramifications for beneficiaries, who are already feeling the strain of prolonged wait periods, could be severe if the institution does not adapt to these changes effectively.