Mexico’s President, Claudia Sheinbaum, has brought a topic of great interest to the forefront for the Mexican migrant community in the United States: the possibility of extending the Pensión del Bienestar to elderly citizens residing in the U.S.
During her press conference held this Wednesday, December 11, Claudia Sheinbaum stated that her government is analyzing the feasibility of this proposal. However, she acknowledged the budgetary challenges it entails, given the significant number of Mexicans living in the United States.
This statement comes after demands from organizations such as the Red Nacional de Jornaleros (NDLON), advocating for the inclusion of migrants over 65 years old in this social program.
The Red Nacional de Jornaleros argues that Pensión del Bienestar is a constitutional right granted to Mexicans, regardless of their place of residence. They demand the Mexican government ensure this right for migrants over 65 years old as a way to recognize their contribution to the economies of both countries.
The current issue lies in the fact that the Pensión del Bienestar’s operational rules require residence in Mexico as an essential condition to access the benefit.
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Pensión del Bienestar USA: How many elderly Mexican citizens live in the United States?
According to data from the Red Nacional de Jornaleros, it is estimated that approximately two million Mexican migrants over 65 years old reside in the United States.
This figure represents a segment of the migrant population that is, in many cases, economically vulnerable. Many of these elderly citizens have worked for decades in the United States, contributing to the economies of both countries but without access to adequate pensions or retirement benefits.
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Pensión del Bienestar USA and Budget
Extending the Pensión del Bienestar to Mexicans in the United States would represent a significant budgetary allocation.
As of November this year, the program served 12.2 million beneficiaries in Mexico. Including an additional two million beneficiaries would increase public spending allocated to this program.
Claudia Sheinbaum acknowledged this challenge and emphasized the need for a thorough analysis before making a final decision. “Regarding pensions and other matters, we are reviewing it. I must be very frank because I do not usually make promises that are sometimes complex to fulfill immediately due to the budgetary issue and the significant number of Mexicans living there (in the U.S.), but we are reviewing it”, said the President of Mexico.
Support for Mexican Migrants
In addition to addressing the potential extension of the Pensión del Bienestar for elderly citizens, Claudia Sheinbaum highlighted the importance of strengthening Mexican consulates in the United States to better support the migrant community.
The president also reiterated her commitment to protecting Mexicans from potential deportations, especially in light of the migration policies the U.S. government may implement.
What is the Pensión del Bienestar for Elderly Citizens, and how has it evolved?
The Pensión del Bienestar for Elderly Citizens is a social program that provides bimonthly financial support to people over 65 years old. This program has seen annual increases since 2021, aiming to improve the quality of life for this demographic.
The bimonthly amount has increased as follows:
- July to December 2021: 3,100 pesos.
- 2022: 3,850 pesos.
- 2023: 4,800 pesos.
- 2024: 6,000 pesos.
During her campaign, Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo committed to maintaining these social programs and continuing the annual increases. However, it seems that the projected increase for 2025 will be smaller than in previous years, where the increase reached up to 25%.
How much is the pension granted by the Mexican government?
The Mexican government has a social program through which it gives an amount of 6,000 Mexican pesos every two months to adults aged 65 or older. This amount is approximately equivalent to 300 dollars.
How much money will elderly citizens receive in 2025?
According to the 2025 Federal Expenditure Budget Proposal (PEF 2025), 483,427 million pesos will be allocated to the Pensión del Bienestar, representing 57% of the social program budget.
Based on an approximate registry of 12.5 million beneficiaries, it is estimated that each recipient would receive:
- 38,674.16 pesos annually.
- In other words: 6,445.69 pesos bimonthly.
This calculation reflects an increase from the current amount of 6,000 pesos bimonthly, albeit less than the 25% increase observed in previous years.
