Social Security in Turkey: Enrollment and Benefits

Published on October 4, 2025 and written by Cyril Jarnias

Social Security in Turkey plays an essential role in protecting citizens from economic and health risks, covering both salaried and self-employed workers through various affiliation mechanisms. This system is structured to provide a range of benefits that include healthcare, retirement pensions, and family allowances, thereby ensuring an indispensable safety net for Turkish households.

However, despite its importance, the system faces various challenges such as an aging population and economic pressure, making understanding its operational aspects crucial for considering its future and potential reforms.

Social Protection System in Turkey

The social protection system in Turkey is primarily managed by the Sosyal Güvenlik Kurumu (SGK), a single institution under the authority of the Ministry of Labor. It operates on a pay-as-you-go principle with contributory (contributions from employers, salaried workers, self-employed individuals, and civil servants) and non-contributory (state funding and voluntary participation from NGOs) components. Law No. 5510, enacted in 2008, governs this framework.

Key Stakeholders Involved:

• SGK: Centralized management for all schemes.
• SSK: Private sector employees and public sector workers.
• Bağ-Kur: Self-employed workers (merchants, artisans).
• Emekli Sandığı: Civil servants.
• Private insurance: Covers a minority unable to access the public scheme.

Types of Benefits Available

Benefits offered by the Turkish system:

• Retirement pensions
• Universal health insurance
• Family allowances
• Unemployment benefits
• Maternity or work accident benefits

Stakeholder Type	Main Scheme	Primary Benefits
Salaried Employees	SSK / SGK	Retirement, healthcare, unemployment
Self-Employed	Bağ-Kur / SGK	Retirement, healthcare
Civil Servants	Emekli Sandığı	Specific retirement
Voluntary Insured	SGK	Healthcare

Affiliation Criteria & Differences by Status

Salaried employees are automatically affiliated through their employer. Self-employed individuals must register with Bağ-Kur. Civil servants historically benefit from a separate scheme but are increasingly integrated into the general system following recent reforms. Voluntary affiliation is open to individuals without other mandatory coverage.

Recent Reforms and Impact

The major reform introduced by Law 5510 merged various schemes into a centralized structure under the SGK to extend universal health coverage to all residents in Turkey. This reform has significantly improved healthcare access for vulnerable populations while simplifying administration.

Illustrative Statistical Data

Approximately 85% to 90% of the population now benefits from some form of public social protection following these major legislative changes. More specifically:

• Over 70 million residents are covered by general health insurance.
• The official retirement coverage rate exceeds 80% among regular contributors but remains lower for some self-employed individuals or farmers.

Current Challenges and Prospects

Main challenges include:

• Incomplete coverage for certain vulnerable or rural categories.
• Financial sustainability in the face of increasing demographic aging.
• Persistent disparities between urban/rural regions regarding access to specialized care.

Key Prospects:

• Strengthening non-contributory mechanisms to reduce health poverty.
• Digital development to facilitate enrollment and tracking of social benefits.
• Targeted improvement of unemployment benefits following a recent increase in the national rate.

Summary list of priority areas to improve the system:

• Increase administrative transparency
• Further harmonize rights across professional statuses
• Financially support social funds against structural deficits

Status	Mandatory Contribution?	Access to Hospital Care
Salaried	Yes	Comprehensive
Self-Employed	Yes	Variable
Civil Servant	Yes	Specific then generalized

Thus, the Turkish system continues to evolve towards more inclusive protection despite persistent financial and organizational constraints.

Social Security Affiliation for Expatriates

Eligibility Criteria for Turkish Social Security (SGK) Affiliation:

• Affiliation is mandatory for all expatriate employees working locally in Turkey, regardless of nationality.
• Expatriates must generally reside in Turkey for at least one year to access universal health insurance (GSS).
• Exempt are expatriates who remain covered by the social security of their home country if a bilateral agreement exists between that country and Turkey.
• Some expatriates, particularly those not working or without a local contract, must mandatorily subscribe to private health insurance to obtain a work visa.
• Expatriate retirees must annually justify their situation to their pension organization.
• Family benefits are limited, except for civil servants.

Administrative Procedures for Registration with Turkish Social Security:

• Declaration of the expatriate’s employment to the SGK by the employer.
• Complete the affiliation form available from the SGK or consular services.
• Conduct an income test (gelir testi) if necessary, at the Social Assistance and Solidarity Foundation (SYD) in the residence area.
• Attach the following supporting documents:
  • Passport and residence permit
  • Employment contract or proof of activity
  • Proof of residence in Turkey (minimum one year for GSS)
  • Proof of income and expenses
• Submit the file to the SGK or through the employer.
• Processing time varies, generally from a few weeks to a month depending on the region and completeness of the file.

Summary Table of Procedures and Required Documents

Step	Responsible Party	Required Documents	Estimated Timeframe
Employment Declaration	Employer	Employment contract, passport, residence permit	Immediate upon hiring
GSS/SGK Affiliation	Expatriate/Employer	Form, proof of residence and income	2 to 4 weeks
Income Test (if applicable)	Expatriate	Income declaration, expenses, household composition	1 to 2 weeks

Social Security Contributions Deducted:

• Contribution rates vary by status (employee, self-employed, etc.) and include:
  • Health insurance
  • Retirement
  • Unemployment insurance
• Contributions are generally shared between employer and employee.
• Contribution amount based on declared salary; overall rate between 14% and 34% of gross salary depending on professional category.

Legal Obligations for Expatriates:

• Obligation to affiliate with the Turkish system unless exempt (bilateral agreement).
• Obligation to contribute as long as the local employment contract is valid.
• Obligation to provide proof of situation and income.
• In case of non-compliance: administrative fines, contribution adjustments, suspension of the right to employ foreigners for the employer.

Differences by Country of Origin:

Expatriates from countries that have signed a bilateral social security agreement with Turkey (e.g., France, Germany) may continue contributing in their home country and are exempt from SGK affiliation, provided they submit adequate proof.

Nationals from countries without an agreement must mandatorily affiliate with the Turkish system after one year of residence.

Impacts of Affiliation on Available Benefits:

Access to Healthcare:

• Broad access to public healthcare facilities with partial or full coverage depending on benefits.
• Option to subscribe to private insurance to supplement or replace public coverage.

Family Allowances:

• Limited benefits for expatriates, except for civil servants.
• Some aids subject to residence and income conditions.

Work Stoppage, Disability, Retirement:

• Entitlement to daily allowances in case of sick leave or work accident based on contributions.
• Disability and retirement pensions accessible after a minimum contribution period, varying by applicable international agreements.
• Retirees can transfer their rights under certain conditions (especially for nationals from countries with an agreement with Turkey).

Summary of Main Benefits of Affiliation for Expatriates

Benefits	Access Conditions	Specifics for Expatriates
Public Healthcare	Residence >1 year, contribution	Immediate coverage after affiliation
Family Allowances	Limited, except civil servants	Subject to income conditions
Work Stoppage Allowances	Regular contribution	Depending on status (employee/self-employed)
Retirement/Disability Pension	Required contribution period	Possible rights transfer per agreements

Social Security Contributions and Benefits in Turkey

In Turkey, social security contributions cover several branches: health insurance, retirement, unemployment, maternity, work accident, and general health. Employers and employees are required to pay contributions based on rates set on gross salary subject to minimum and maximum limits revised annually.

Contribution Type	Standard Employer Rate	Reduced Employer Rate*	Employee Rate
Social Security (SSI)	20.5 %	15.5 %	14 %
Unemployment Insurance	2 %	2 %	1 %

*The reduced rate applies if the employer meets certain administrative conditions.

• Minimum monthly base in 2025: 26,005.50 TRY
• Monthly ceiling in 2025: 195,041.40 TRY

Collection is handled by the SSI (Sosyal Güvenlik Kurumu), the public agency responsible for calculation and recovery through mandatory declaration. The employer declares salaries and pays contributions for each pay period.

Types of Social Benefits Available

• Universal Medical Care
  Any legal resident in Turkey benefits from universal health coverage allowing access to public healthcare.
• Retirement Pensions
  Granted after a minimum affiliation period (generally at least fifteen years).
  • Calculation based on the number of years contributed with an accumulation rate set at 2% per annual bracket, capped at a maximum of 90% of average income.
• Unemployment Allowances
  Awarded under conditions: having worked at least one hundred twenty consecutive days before involuntary job loss; maximum duration varies based on contribution periods.
• Benefits for Work Accidents/Occupational Diseases
  Partial or full compensation based on the degree recognized by medical expertise.

Examples of Supplementary Social Aids:

• Family allowances
• Partial or full coverage of major medical expenses
• Specific support for disabled or disadvantaged workers

General Eligibility Conditions

• Legal residence in Turkish territory
• Effective affiliation with SSI or voluntary payment for certain self-employed individuals/civil servants
• Compliance with minimum durations required for each benefit (e.g., retirement)

Recent Reforms & Trends

List of notable developments:

• Maintenance and extension for several years of targeted employer exemptions to support employment in certain strategic sectors (textile, technology, free zones).
• Enhanced incentives for hiring youth/women/long-term unemployed, potentially including full exemption for thirty-six months.
• Significant annual revaluation of SSI minimum bases/ceilings to keep up with persistent inflation.

Current Challenges & Prospects

Summary list:

• Accelerated demographic aging weighing on the funding of the contributory retirement scheme.
• Regular increase in overall cost related to universal medical care facing a growing/older population.
• Increased budgetary fragility requiring significant state transfers to ensure financial balance, especially in the non-contributory component.

Comparative table: recent evolution of Turkish social policies

Area	Measure / Trend
Employment	Expanded exemptions
Retirement	Ceiling/base indexing
Health	Universality maintained
Unemployment	Strengthened access

Authorities continue their active policy to consolidate an inclusive social system while seeking to limit its structural cost through increased targeting and enhanced control.