Turkish social security retirement regulations

Turkish social security regulations outline specific criteria for determining retirement status and eligibility. Under Law No. 2829, an individual’s retirement status is determined by their most frequent service status during their final seven years of employment. To qualify for a specific category, a worker must complete at least 1,260 days within that status during their final 2,520 days of service. Regarding disability retirement, the Social Security Institution (SGK) requires a documented loss of at least 60 percent of working or earning capacity, as determined by the SGK Health Board. Standard eligibility generally requires 10 years of insurance coverage and 1,800 days of premium payments, though the 10-year requirement may be waived for individuals needing continuous care. Provisions also exist for civil servants and military personnel concerning medical leave and disability processes. For example, civil servants may enter the disability process via written resignation, with medical leave durations varying by condition. Recently, the Retirement Justice Association (EMADDER) submitted a draft proposal for a phased retirement system to the Ministry of Labour and Social Security. This proposal targets approximately 4 million workers who entered the system between September 9, 1999, and 2008. Under this model, women starting work between 1999 and 2000 could retire at age 43 with 6,400 premium days, while men could retire at age 45 with the same requirement. EMADDER President Mihriban Uğurlu stated that officials indicated President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has been informed of the request and the file is under evaluation at the Presidency. Currently, workers in this bracket face retirement ages of 58 for women and 60 for men, with a 7,000-day premium requirement. EMADDER leadership, including Uğurlu, recently met with Deputy Minister of Labour and Social Security Ahmet Aydın to present the model.