SGK pension calculation errors affecting disabled retirees

Social security expert Nergis Şimşek has identified two methodological errors made by the Social Security Institution (SGK) in Turkey that result in lower pension payments for disabled retirees.

The first error involves the use of fixed rates instead of actual percentages. When medical reports use the term “mild level” instead of a specific percentage, the SGK automatically applies a 45 percent rate. This disadvantages individuals whose actual disability loss is between 45 and 49 percent.

The second error concerns the disregard of actual premium days. The SGK reportedly uses a derived number of days based on fixed rates to determine the monthly attachment rate (ABO), whereas legislation allows for the use of the insured person’s actual premium days as long as the calculated rate does not fall below the 40 percent threshold.