Understanding the ISSSTE Décimo Transitorio Regime
If you are a state worker contributing to the ISSSTE Décimo Transitorio pension regime, you should be aware of the upcoming changes starting in 2026. This regime was established by a new ISSSTE law in April 2007, which introduced individual account pension schemes for workers who opted to stay with the old system instead of joining the newly created one.
There are three ways to retire under this regime: regular jubilation, age and years of service, or advanced-age early retirement. Among these, only the jubilation regime allows for an earlier retirement age.
Previous Legislation and the New Decree
The 2007 ISSSTE law increased the minimum retirement age for jubilation, stipulating that workers with 30 or more years of service (or women with 28 or more) would need to be at least 60 and 58 years old, respectively, by 2028. The law planned to raise the minimum retirement age by two years every two years until reaching these numbers.
The New Decree’s Impact
President Claudia Sheinbaum’s recent decree aims to recognize workers’ right to a just and dignified pension. It halts the increase in the minimum retirement age starting 2025 and gradually reduces it, lowering it by one year every three years until 2034. By then, the minimum retirement age will be 53 for women and 55 for men.
Changes Taking Effect in 2026
Originally, the 2007 ISSSTE law set the minimum retirement age for women at 57 years old with at least 28 years of contributions and for men at 59 years old with at least 30 years. The decree maintains these numbers, only adjusting the minimum retirement age.
- Women: Minimum retirement age remains at 56 years old, with 28 years of contributions required.
- Men: Minimum retirement age is adjusted from 59 to 58 years old, still requiring at least 30 years of contributions.
While the minimum retirement age will decrease until 2028, it will no longer increase in 2026 as initially planned. Approximately 900,000 workers are part of the Décimo Transitorio regime, like Karla, who is now able to retire three years earlier at age 55 instead of 58.
Expert Opinions
Moisés Pérez, founder of Yo Jubilado Estrategias para tu retiro, notes that the government is enabling early retirement for a significant portion of ISSSTE contributors. However, this comes with financial challenges for the institute since individuals stop contributing at a younger age but still receive lifelong pension benefits.
Héctor Villarreal, a professor at Tecnológico de Monterrey, points out that multiple financial pressures face the pension system, making it a “ticking time bomb.” Although lowering the retirement age benefits workers, it strains national finances, as over 20% of the annual budget is allocated to pension payments. This figure increases yearly as income growth slows.
