Jalisco Receives Millions a Month through US Pensions
In Jalisco there are more than 22 thousand beneficiaries of US pensions, according to El Informador of Mexico. The State receives little more than 17 million dollars each month; however there are many people who could be beneficiaries and do not know it, states the Mexican press.
In Jalisco, there are 22,148 beneficiaries of the pension program provided by the Government of the United States to those who worked for more than 10 years. They get $600 a month, on average, according to El Informador.
Jalisco is the national leader in the number of pensioners due to a measure launched 55 years ago. They are followed by Michoacán (10 thousand 992) and Baja California (10 thousand 653).
The Press Director of the American Consulate in Guadalajara, Marco González, told the press that those who meet the requirements can request an appointment by emailing [email protected].
Jalisco receives 17 million dollars a month through US pensions
Through the pensions provided by the Federal Benefits Unit of the United States, established in Guadalajara for almost 55 years, Jalisco receives just over 17 million dollars per month, according to the local specialist in benefits of the US Social Security, Efrén Navarro.
With this figure, Jalisco is positioned as the entity that receives the most resources, above Baja California and Michoacán, benefited with 7.9 million dollars and 7.5 million dollars, respectively.
“There are many people who could be beneficiaries of this type of pension and do not know it, and that is where we want to go. The intention is to capture more and more people, and inform them that this is their right,” said Navarro.
To be a beneficiary of these pensions, the person must be over 62 years old and have worked for at least 10 years in the United States under a social security number, regardless of the immigration status they had while they were working in the United States.
Efrén Navarro encourages interested parties to contact the unit through the official email [email protected], to obtain a face-to-face or telephone appointment for an interview to learn more about individual qualifications for the benefits.
The Federal Benefits Unit serves people who now live in the States of Jalisco, Colima, Nayarit, Aguascalientes, Sinaloa, Baja California Sur and Zacatecas. Appointment to start the process can be requested for free.
Pension for immigrants who have left the United States
In some cases, such as Mexico, there is an agreement so that, no matter how long it has been since a worker left the United States, they can have access to social security benefits and their dependents and survivors can also count on the benefit, according to Tramites, USA.
“It does not matter if you were a temporary worker, agricultural worker or worked at home, your employers had the obligation to make contributions for your social security…even if you are deported or removed, your dependents can receive benefits if they are US citizens. If they are not US citizens, we will continue to pay them benefits if they remain in the United States for a full month,” details Tramites.
Where to start?
To receive a pension it is essential to have worked under a Social Security Number. In addition, the beneficiary must have a certain number of credits that are made up of the time they worked and the income earned. “An approximate number of credits to obtain is 40. So if you were working for at least 5 years, you may be entitled to a pension, and if you have been working for 10 years or more, even your relatives could continue to enjoy the benefit after your death,” explains Tramites USA.
To learn more, potential beneficiaries can start by asking the SSA for a copy of your current SS account statement. If outside the United States, the process can be done through the federal benefits office.
To get started, locate the office of the Misión México of the US Embassy that corresponds to your state of residence, since there are three offices of the Federal Benefits Unit, focused on certain states of the Mexican Republic. To find out more, visit the Unidad de Beneficios Federales/Seguro Social.
Soledad Quartucci | Latina Republic
Dr. Soledad Quartucci is the founder and CEO of Latina Republic, a 501(C)3 California-based nonprofit organization. Latina Republic is committed to improving the diversity and professional development of storytellers in the media industry as representation matters and affects the stories we tell. Latina Republic makes space for and empowers unheard voices and trains the next generation of leaders in the U.S.
