Saadet Party calls for urgent reform regarding disabled retirement rights

The Saadet Party has issued a report highlighting significant grievances following changes to the disability retirement system in Turkey. Under Law No. 7538, which took effect on January 15, 2025, the retirement criteria for individuals insured before October 2008 have shifted from a tax reduction basis to a system based on loss of working capacity as determined by Social Security Institution (SGK) health boards.

According to data from the Disabled Retirement Solidarity Association, between 50,000 and 70,000 people are directly affected by this regulation. The party reports that many citizens, including those undergoing cancer treatment or living with limb loss, are facing rejected applications or the sudden termination of pension payments.

Saadet Party officials, including Sivas Provincial Chairman Mehmet Zahit Tokgöz and Social Affairs Head Sinan Tekin, argued that the state should seek savings through waste reduction rather than cutting the rights of disabled citizens. The party is calling for an urgent transition regulation and a permanent solution to protect those who planned their retirements based on previous legal requirements.