Understanding Unemployment Withdrawals from Afores
The Mexican Association of Afores (Amafore) clarified that the maximum amount withdrawn for unemployment in 2025 does not pose a risk to the stability of the Sistema de Ahorro para el Retiro (SAR), as it has represented less than 0.5% of the managed resources in recent years.
Withdrawal Trends Over the Years
- In 2025, workers made 1,944,902 unemployment withdrawals from Afores, which was below the historical maximum of 1,995,159 in 2021.
- The proportion of individuals with an Afore account making an annual unemployment withdrawal has remained stable, between 2% and 3% of the total retirement savings accounts.
Withdrawal Amounts and Growth
Amafore highlighted that while the total amount withdrawn has been increasing steadily over the past few years, this is natural for a growing system. In 2025, workers withdrew a total of 39,118 million pesos from their Afores, marking a historical maximum and a 26% growth compared to the previous year.
Understanding Withdrawal Rules
The rule for unemployment withdrawals allows workers to take out the lesser amount between three months’ worth of their last registered salary with the IMSS or 11.5% of the accumulated resources in their account.
Amafore explained that if the number of withdrawals hasn’t shown sustained growth in recent years, but the withdrawn amount has, it indicates that the withdrawn amount has grown in line with the increase in workers’ account balances and salaries.
Risks Associated with Unemployment Withdrawals
Arturo García, the General Director of Afore Profuturo, warned that workers should consider the consequences of unemployment withdrawals. These include reduced future savings and loss of cotization weeks necessary for pension eligibility.
García emphasized that those who have withdrawn funds for unemployment can return the amount to their retirement savings account once they regain employment stability, thus recovering both the saved money and lost cotization weeks.
How to Make a Unemployment Withdrawal
- Visit your Afore to obtain a partial unemployment withdrawal request form, which you must fill out and sign.
- Submit the completed form along with a valid ID and a document containing your security social number to any of your Afore’s branches.
- Your Afore will process the request with the Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social (IMSS) within 10 business days of receiving the request to secure a withdrawal rights certificate.
- Once the IMSS confirms your right to withdraw, your Afore will provide you with your resources.
Key Questions and Answers
- Q: What is the impact of unemployment withdrawals on SAR stability? A: Unemployment withdrawals have represented less than 0.5% of managed resources in recent years, posing no significant risk to SAR stability.
- Q: How have unemployment withdrawals changed over time? A: The number of withdrawals has remained stable, while the withdrawn amount has grown in line with workers’ account balances and salaries.
- Q: What are the risks of making a unemployment withdrawal? A: Withdrawals reduce future savings and cotization weeks needed for pension eligibility.
- Q: Can I recover withdrawn funds for unemployment? A: Yes, once you regain employment stability, you can return the withdrawn amount to your retirement savings account, recovering both saved money and lost cotization weeks.
- Q: How do I make a unemployment withdrawal? A: Visit your Afore, obtain the request form, fill it out, sign it, and submit it along with your ID and security social number document to any Afore branch. Your Afore will process the request with IMSS and provide you with your resources once the withdrawal right is confirmed.
