Introduction
The previsional savings is the Achilles’ heel of many workers. The false belief that they should only worry about it a few months before starting the retirement process leads workers to rarely approach their Pension Fund Administrator (Afore) or any institution for advice, review, or control of their resources. Here are some horror stories that will demonstrate the importance of staying on top of your retirement savings.
After housing, a worker’s Afore account is the second most important asset, yet between a Retirement Savings System (SAR) with different rules for each generation and the distant vision of retirement, among other factors, workers simply fail to connect with their future.
Invaded Accounts or Separation of NSS
According to a survey by El Economista, workers attending the Afore Fair 2025 face various problems with their accounts, leading them to seek help from organizations like the National Commission for the Protection and Defense of Financial Services Users (Condusef) to claim unauthorized changes in administrators, account separations, unifications, and NSS certifications.
Julián attended the Afore Fair 2025 because his account statement reflected a withdrawal of 200,000 pesos for a housing credit he never used. Upon visiting his Afore, advisors discovered that his account was invaded by another worker’s account.
This situation, known as homonymity, occurs when two people share a name or due to administrative errors, they are assigned the same Número de Seguridad Social (NSS). This has become a recurring problem among workers.
Andrea Lara, part of Afore XXI Banorte’s specialized attention team, recommends that workers validate the status of their accounts to avoid conflicts.
“People only approach the Afore when they need to do a tramite. This is the only time these errors can be detected and turn into a series of unfortunate events,” explains Lara.
Workers like Julián can seek help from their administrators or turn to the Condusef, which assists in certifying a worker’s NSS to enable resource separation; however, this process can take six to eight months, especially if the resources have been invaded throughout the worker’s life. This is a common situation due to the large number of people with similar names in the country.
Unauthorized Afore Change?
Another frequent issue among workers is the unauthorized Afore change, even though the National Commission of the Retirement Savings System (Consar) has set safeguards to prevent such situations, it still occurs, according to Condusef.
The institution advises workers to present a declaration with the involved Afore, requiring proof or information that demonstrates authorization to change administrators.
Account unification is another common procedure because, throughout their working life, workers contribute to the Mexican Social Security Institute (IMSS) when working in the private sector and to the Institute of Security and Social Services of State Workers (ISSSTE) when working for the government, as its name suggests.
This procedure occurs when a worker has multiple security social numbers or accounts because they were enrolled multiple times without informing that they already had one. Condusef helps detect all numbers to unify them under one.
Finally, another common reason workers approach their retirement savings account is that they will soon begin the retirement process; however, some live their entire lives without knowing which Afore they are in, how much they have saved, or if that will be enough for a dignified life when they stop working formally.
Andrés, after a lifetime of work, visited the Afore Fair 2025 to learn about the retirement process. He never registered for an account, and although the law states that if a worker fails to complete this process, their resources should go to the Afore with the highest returns, Andrés is unaware of his savings as he never received account statements and has no plan for a tranquil retirement phase.
Are you in a similar situation or do you want to organize your account? The Afore Fair 2025 will be at the Zócalo in Mexico City until August 5, from 9 am to 6 pm. You only need to bring your CURP, official identification, and NSS.
Key Questions and Answers
- What is the problem with Afore accounts? Workers often neglect their Afore accounts, leading to issues like invaded accounts, unauthorized changes in administrators, and account unification due to multiple enrollments.
- What is homonymity? Homonymity occurs when two people share a name or are mistakenly assigned the same NSS, causing account complications.
- How can I avoid Afore account issues? Regularly validate your account status and seek help from your Afore or Condusef if problems arise.
- What should I do if my Afore account was changed without consent? Present a declaration with the involved Afore and proof of authorization to change administrators.
- Why do account unifications happen? Unifications occur when workers contribute to both IMSS and ISSSTE throughout their careers without informing about existing contributions.
- How can I prepare for retirement if I’ve never checked my Afore? Visit events like the Afore Fair 2025, gather necessary documents (CURP, ID, NSS), and seek professional advice to create a retirement plan.
