The theme of the 2025 ENEM essay — “Perspectives on aging in Brazilian society” — draws attention to an issue that goes far beyond the exam: how Brazil is dealing with the aging of its population and what guarantees the elderly have to live with dignity. In this context, one of the fundamental pillars for ensuring the rights of the elderly is Social Security , which guarantees income, support, and financial security in a phase of life that should be one of tranquility — and not uncertainty.
Population aging is a reality. The number of elderly people in Brazil grows every year, and life expectancy has never been so high.
But along with this achievement come new challenges: low pension amounts, denied benefits, lack of information about social security rights , and difficulty accessing INSS (Brazilian National Social Security Institute) services. And that is precisely why the theme of the 2025 ENEM (Brazilian National High School Exam) is so relevant: it makes us reflect on how Brazilian society views the elderly—and, especially, how the State and the laws ensure that they can age with respect and security.
Social Security is more than just a retirement system.
It represents the pact of solidarity between generations — those who work today contribute to guaranteeing the income of those who contributed in the past. But what many don't know is that the Brazilian social security system is complex and full of details that can directly affect the amount and type of retirement benefits a worker is entitled to.
Without proper guidance, it is common for the elderly to waste time, money, and opportunities to receive greater benefits than those granted.
The 2025 ENEM exam , by proposing the theme "Perspectives on aging in Brazilian society," also highlights the importance of guaranteeing public policies to protect the elderly , such as health, accessibility, and, of course, fair social security . Social security law is one of the main tools for social inclusion. It ensures that each person, after years of work and contributions, can age with security and autonomy . Therefore, understanding how Social Security works and planning for the future is fundamental—and this is where the role of a social security lawyer comes in.
