Do survivor’s benefits change the distributive aspects of the pension system? An empirical analysis with microdata from RGPS administrative records

Abstract

This work addresses the distributive aspects of RGPS, incorporating the survivor’s benefits. We use microdata from 50,000 individuals born between 1930 and 1979. Old-age benefits by contribution time lasted on average 13.53 years, compared to 7.25 years for old-age benefits by age. The survivor’s benefits arising from these benefits lasted 3.56 years and 3.89 years. For each case, the sum of the old-age and survivors received by the family was of R$ 70,274 and R$ 205,632. These figures increased more for survivors originated by old-age benefits by age than by contribution time. Along with the fact that most survivors’ beneficiaries are women, this is evidence of progressivity of RGPS.