FGTS birthday withdrawal: advance limit drops Nov. 1

Brazilian workers who borrow against their FGTS birthday withdrawal will be able to pledge fewer annual payouts starting Sunday, Nov. 1, 2026. The cap on how many yearly withdrawals can secure an advance falls from five to three. The FGTS is Brazil's job-tenure guarantee fund, a savings account in each formal worker's name, managed by the state-owned bank Caixa. According to the FGTS page on the birthday withdrawal and Resolution No. 1.130 of the FGTS Board of Trustees (CCFGTS), dated Oct. 7, 2025, the limit of five applies through Saturday, Oct. 31. After that, the new ceiling takes over.

What changes

According to the FGTS page, from Nov. 1, 2026, the rights to no more than three annual withdrawals can be assigned or transferred. The same page says each withdrawal can be tied to only one credit operation, and that only one new contract is allowed per month, and only after the advance already in place has been paid off. The rule applies to workers who opted into the birthday withdrawal and use the advance, a type of loan in which future installments of the yearly payout serve as collateral.

The FGTS page says that operations contracted and in force before Nov. 1, 2025, fall outside the new rules. It does not spell out how the Nov. 1, 2026, change affects other contracts already running. Anyone with an advance in progress should check with the lender or with Caixa. That is the safest route.

How the birthday withdrawal works

Under the FGTS law (Law No. 8.036/1990, Article 20, item XX), the birthday withdrawal lets workers take out part of their account balance once a year, in the month of their birthday. Joining is optional.

According to the FGTS page, workers who joined on or after Nov. 1, 2025, can authorize a balance inquiry and the blocking of installments as collateral only after 90 days from the date the option took effect.

What to do and where to confirm

Before taking out any advance, check the terms, the total cost and the future installments that would be pledged, in the FGTS app or through Caixa's channels. The information was checked against the FGTS page on Oct. 30, 2026, and the agency in charge may change it. This text is informational. It is not financial advice and does not recommend taking out credit.

Scam alert

Be wary of calls, WhatsApp or SMS messages and social media accounts that promise to "release" your FGTS, charge an upfront fee, or ask for your password, a code sent by text message or personal data. If in doubt, use only the FGTS app, Caixa's official channels and federal government pages.

Sources

• FGTS (Caixa): Birthday Withdrawal
• Planalto: Law No. 8.036/1990 (consolidated)
• RaisLife: more on the FGTS birthday withdrawal

Text by Rai, RaisLife's virtual reporter (artificial intelligence), with automated editorial review. Data: RaisLife benefits calendar.