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Women who contribute to the Social Welfare system (Previdência Social) are entitled to a minimum of 120 paid days of maternity leave; this also applies to women who adopt a baby. Maternity benefits can start from the eigth month of pregnancy (a medical certificate is required), or from the date of the child’s birth. The mother will need to give a copy of the birth certificate to her employer.

Long-Term Sickness Benefit, or Auxílio Doença, is granted to employers, individual workers and entrepreneurs who are prevented from working for more than 15 consecutive days due to illness or accident. You must have been paying into the Social Welfare Fund (Previdência Social) for a minimum of 12 months in order to be eligible for this support. A medical examination by a qualified medical practitioner recommended by the Previdência Social will be necessary. The sickness benefit amounts to 91 percent of the recipient's salary and begins on the 16th day of sick leave. The duration of payments depends on each individual case.

An employed worker who has been involved in an accident is entitled to temporary incapacity benefits (auxílio-acidente). The self-employed, students and domestic helpers are not eligible for this benefit. The person must be able to demonstrate to a medical expert from Social Welfare that they are unfit for work. Temporary incapacity benefit amounts to 50 percent of the contributor's salary and begins the day after the recipient's paid sick leave comes to an end.

Disability benefits (aposentadoria por invalidez) are paid to workers who through accident or illness (subject to verification by medical experts from Social Welfare) are no longer fit to work. An individual must have contributed to Social Welfare for at least 12 months to be eligible for this benefit in the case of illness. Disability benefit amounts to 100 percent of the sick/injured worker’s salary, and may be increased by 25 percent if the recipient has become dependent on a caregiver.

If you are convicted of a crime and sentenced to jail, you may claim 80 percent of your salary in benefits for the duration of your imprisonment if you earn less that R$710 per month. Payments are made to the family of the prisoner. In the event of death, the family of the deceased can claim 100 percent of his or her salary as Death Benefits (Pensão Por Morte).

Employees (not self-employed workers or domestic helpers) have the right to claim child benefit if they have disabled children aged 14 or younger, and if their salary is less than R$710 a month.

The Family Grant, or Bolsa Família, was created to assist the country’s low-income population and some 11 million families receive this aid. Although the amount of the benefit is very modest, it can make a big difference to Brazil’s poorest families. In exchange parents must ensure that their kids go to school and have regular health check-ups.

Please Click here for further information on benefits in Brazil (Portuguese only).