Mexico's IMSS and ISSSTE Outline Pension Rules and Payment Holds

The Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social (IMSS) clarifies that retirement, pension and withdrawal are distinct concepts. Retirement marks the end of a worker’s career, pension is the periodic payment received after meeting legal requirements, and withdrawal refers to the process of stopping contributions and using accumulated funds, especially under the individual accounts managed by Afores. IMSS also details the various pension types available, such as those for advanced age, disability, risk of work, widowhood, and orphanhood, and explains which legal regime—Law 73 (1973) or Law 97 (1997)—applies based on when a worker began contributing.

The Institute for Security and Social Services of State Workers (ISSSTE) explains that pension payments can be temporarily suspended for specific reasons. Common causes include missing bi‑annual “fe de vida” certificates for retirees living abroad, inconsistencies in bank account data that lead to rejected deposits, and unresolved administrative or legal issues. ISSSTE refutes social‑media claims that pensions are being cancelled due to biometric registration requirements, noting that such rumors are unfounded.