Mexico City — A recent ruling by Mexico’s Supreme Court of Justice (SCJN) has significantly increased the pension benefits available to parents who were financially dependent on a deceased pensioner under the 1973 Social Security Law.
Previously, when a pensioner died, parents who relied on them for support could only receive 20% of the pension amount, often leaving them in a precarious financial situation. The new ruling raises that share to up to 90%.
Jorge Gómez Abarca, president of the Social Security Commission of the Mexican Institute of Public Accountants in Cancún, clarified that the change does not affect workers’ benefits but instead provides justice for parents who depended on a deceased child who was a pensioner.
To qualify, parents must formally prove their economic dependence to the IMSS (Mexican Social Security Institute). Even if the worker designated a spouse and children as primary beneficiaries, parents who relied on the pensioner’s income now have a right equivalent to an orphan’s or disability pension.
Joel Calyeca, a social security specialist, noted that children’s rights remain unchanged. Children can continue to receive the pension until they reach the age of majority, up to age 25 if they are enrolled in an official school, or indefinitely if they have a certified disability.
Experts recommend that anyone approaching retirement or seeking to file a claim consult a certified public accountant for guidance on the required documentation and legal procedures.
