Work-injury relapses are paid on the wage in effect when IMSS approves them
Relapse arising from an occupational risk. The contribution wage base for calculating the corresponding benefits is the one registered for the insured person when the Mexican Social Security Institute determines that the relapse is admissible.
Official heading (Spanish): RECAÍDA DERIVADA DE UN RIESGO DE TRABAJO. EL SALARIO BASE DE COTIZACIÓN PARA CALCULAR LAS PRESTACIONES CORRESPONDIENTES ES EL QUE LA PERSONA ASEGURADA TENGA REGISTRADO AL MOMENTO EN QUE EL INSTITUTO MEXICANO DEL SEGURO SOCIAL DETERMINE LA PROCEDENCIA DE LA RECAÍDA.
The ruling
Collegiate Circuit Courts disagreed on whether benefits for a relapse of an occupational injury are calculated on the wage in effect at the time of the injury or at the relapse. The Regional Plenary Court held that the wage registered when IMSS determines the relapse admissible applies, under article 74, section I, of the Social Security Law regulations on enrollment.
Our take
The ruling separates the original injury, governed by the wage at that time, from the relapse, which is a later triggering event with its own base. In practice, if the worker's wage rose between the accident and the relapse, the benefit will be higher; if it fell, lower. Workers benefit when the registered wage reflects actual pay. For employers, the ruling again puts the spotlight on an accurate contribution wage base: under-reporting translates into benefit gaps that may be claimed later. The rule is clear and simplifies the calculation for everyone.
What to do
- Keep the wage registered with IMSS current, including all items that must be integrated.
- When a relapse occurs, check that IMSS calculates the benefit on the wage in effect upon approval.
Details
- Court
- Regional Plenary Courts
- Type
- Binding precedent (jurisprudencia)
- Identifier
- PR.P.T.CN. J/12 L (12a.)
- Digital registry
- 2032532
- Published
- August 21, 2026
- Area
- Labor and social security
- View official source ↗
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Prepared by Artegia for information only; not legal advice. Headings in English are unofficial translations. The official text is the one published in the Semanario Judicial de la Federación or the TFJA journal.