National Workers’ Housing Fund Institute (INFONAVIT, Spanish):
It provides credit housing to employees as well as loans. The Retirement Savings Program provides employees with retirement benefits once they reach 65 years of age.
Mexican Institute of Social Security (IMSS, Spanish):
In Mexico, each worker has the benefit of being registered before IMSS and enjoy the services that the Institute offers such as medical care and medical specializations. These services may range from medical consultation and medicines to complex surgeries. Each company is required to deduct 5% of the gross salary of each worker and use the remaining 95% to pay for a monthly fee to register employees to provide them with a health insurance. The institution absorbs 100% of this fee and does not discount any amount to its employees.
Insurance and Benefits
Health Care and medical consultation
Each IMSS member has the benefit of free consultation with a general practitioner for common diseases. This professional may prescribe medications provided by IMSS which are free of charge. If an illness requires specialized care, you will be referred to a specialist for treatment or surgery if required. All this is offered free of charge.
Occupational Hazards and Risks
The labor risk insurance protects workers against accidents and diseases to which they are exposed to due to the nature of their jobs. IMSS provides workers with the necessary healthcare for protection, upon payment of a pension, while unable to work temporarily or permanently. Also, in the case of death, IMSS provides pension to their beneficiaries. Commuting from home and work and vice versa is also considered as an occupational hazard or risk.
Maternity and Illness insurances
Maternity insurance provides the necessary medical care during the pregnancy as well as economic benefits. The Illness insurance provides medical, surgical, pharmaceutical, and hospital services to workers and provides benefits and / or cash for the treatment of their disease, for themselves and his/her beneficiaries.
Maternity insurance provides medical care during pregnancy as well as benefits or cash and also after delivery, in addition to the protection that Mexico’s Social Security Act states, which is about 42 days before childbirth and 42 days after delivery.
Disability and life insurance
This insurance protects the insured or pensioner from risks related to disability and death (not only when they pose an occupational risk) through a pension for him/her or his/her beneficiaries.
In case of disability, the Institute provides two types of pensions:
• Temporary pension
• Final pension
In case the pensioner dies, the Institute shall provide its beneficiaries the following benefits:
• Widow's pension
• Orphan's pension
• Pension for direct relatives in the ascending line
• Assistance to pensioner’s widow
• Medical assistance
Retirement, unemployment at an advanced age
Unemployment at an advance age insurance is granted at 60 years of age and for those who have lost their jobs. Retirement insurance is for individuals of 65 years of age and who have accumulated 1,25 qualifying weeks recognized or acknowledged by the Institute.
Nursery and Social Benefits
The Institute provides insurance childcare for children of those who meet the requirements by law. The childcare includes grooming, feeding, health care, education and recreation of children.
Social benefits are: provision of social solidarity that consists of community health activities, medical, pharmaceutical and even hospital care that are provided to people with profound rural, suburban, and urban marginalization. Social benefits are intended to promote health, prevent disease and accidents, and contribute to improving quality of life of the citizens through programs of health promotion, health education, cultural and sports activities, among others.
How to Get a Social Security Number in Mexico
You can apply online or in person.
Business hours: You must go to your corresponding Subdelegación u Oficina Auxiliar de Afiliación y Cobranza, from Monday to Friday on business days from 08:00 to 15:30.
More information, please go to http://www.imss.gob.mx/
Social Security steps to conclude the affiliation process:
1. Enter the site www.imss.gob.mx
2. Click the option: “Derecho habientes, pensionados y público en general”
3. Choose the icon “Escritorio Virtual”
4. Choose the menu: “Altas, Inscripciones o Registros”
5. Click the option: “Alta en Clínica o UMF”
6. *(If required, you must have your CURP, zip code, and email handy)
7. Fill out the form and enter your CURP, Zip code, and email. Push the blue button “Continuar”
8. Print out the document and go to the clinic that the website indicates.