Social Security and the Minimum Income in Mexico as the Foundation for a Dignified Life

Social security is the very basis for each person to enjoy a dignified life, which is only possible when their basic needs are met, thus enabling them to develop their potential as human beings. This State responsibility materializes itself in the form of a minimum income guaranteed by minimum wages, social insurance benefits and assistance program benefits. In Mexico, various mechanisms are in place to fulfil this obligation: the minimum income, the right to minimum subsistence and a minimum wage. However, there are still citizens today who have not been able to secure an income that allows them to ad- equately meet their needs and thus live in extreme poverty. Accordingly, this article uses an analytical and descriptive method to examine the legal scope of a "dignified life" and its connection with social security, the State's obli- gation to protect the minimum income, and the social benefits intended and designed to ensure a "dignified life, reaching the conclusion that considerable progress has been made in this area. Nevertheless, mechanisms still need to be designed to ensure their adequate protection and guarantee.