First laws: 1949 (old age) and 1957 (old age, disability, and survivors).

Current laws: 1964 (Social Insurance Law No. 506), implemented in 1965, with 1999 (Unemployment Insurance Law No. 4447) amendment; 1983 (Agricultural Employee Social Insurance Law No. 2925), implemented in 1984, with 1999 (Unemployment Insurance Law No. 4447) amendment; 2006 (Social Security Institution Law No. 5502 of 20 May); 2006 (Social Security and General Health Insurance Law No. 5510 of 31 May), implemented in 2007 and 2008; and 2008 (Regulations of August 2008 concerning the proceedings on Social Security of 28 August).

Type of program: Social insurance system.

Note: In May 2006, the separate systems for public and private sector employees and the self-employed were merged into one under the Social Security Institution which was established by Law no. 5502.

Employees (including foreign nationals) aged 18 or older working under a service contract in the public or private sector, including civil servants and self-employed persons.

Insured person: 9% of monthly earnings, up to a maximum.

Self-employed person: 20% of monthly declared earnings, up to a maximum.

Employer: 11% of employees' monthly earnings, up to a maximum.

Government: 25% of total contributions collected by the Social Security Institution.

Old-age pension: Age 60 (men) or age 58 (women) with at least 7,200 days of contributions (9,000 days for civil servants and self-employed persons). As of 2036, the retirement age will rise gradually to age 65 by 2046 (men) and 2048 (women).

If first insured before October 1, 2008, special conditions apply.

Special conditions for miners.

Aged 50 or older and prematurely aged (and therefore unable to work until the full pensionable age), subject to other conditions.

An insured person of any age whose disability began before starting insured employment and who has at least 15 years of coverage including at least 3,600 days of paid contributions, according to the assessed degree of disability.

Mothers with special needs children are eligible to retire 5 years before the normal retirement age.

Gainful employment must cease on retirement. In certain cases, employment may be permitted while receiving an old-age pension, provided the pensioner pays a support contribution of 30% of earnings.

The pension may be deferred. There is no age limit.

Old-age settlement: Age 60 (men) or age 58 (women); age 50 (men and women), prematurely aged, and not eligible for a pension.

As of 2036, the retirement age will rise gradually to age 65 by 2046 (men) and 2048 (women).

The old-age pension and the old-age settlement may be partially payable abroad under reciprocal agreement.

Disability pension: Must have a loss of at least 60% of working capacity with at least 1,800 days of contributions and at least 10 years of coverage. The requirement for the years of coverage is waived for insured persons requiring constant attendance.

The disability pension may be partially payable abroad under reciprocal agreement.

Survivor pension: The deceased met the contribution requirements for a disability pension or an old-age pension or was a pensioner at the time of death; or was insured for at least 5 years and had paid contributions for a total of 900 days (1,800 days for civil servants and self-employed persons).

Eligible dependents include a spouse; children younger than age 18 (age 20 if a pre-university student, age 25 if a university student); a son aged 18 or older who is disabled and unemployed; an unmarried, widowed, or divorced daughter of any age who is not in insured employment or receiving any social security benefits in her own right; and dependent parents.

The spouse's survivor pension ceases on remarriage.

Survivors are eligible to receive only one survivor pension.

Survivor settlement: Paid if the deceased was not eligible for an old-age or disability pension and was not insured for at least 5 years with 900 days of contributions (1,800 days for civil servants and self-employed persons).

The survivor pension and survivor settlement may be partially payable abroad under bilateral agreement.

Funeral grant: Paid to the family on the death of an old-age pensioner or disability pensioner.

Old-age pension: A pension is paid based on 2% of the insured's last salary and the coverage period, up to a maximum.

If first insured before October 1, 2008, special conditions apply.

Benefit adjustment: Benefits are adjusted in December of each year according to changes in the consumer price index and the gross domestic product.

Old-age settlement: If the insured is not eligible for a pension, a lump sum is paid.

Disability pension: A pension is paid based on 2% of the insured's last salary and the coverage period, up to a maximum.

If first insured before October 1, 2008, special conditions apply.

Constant-attendance allowance: The pension is increased to 70% of average annual earnings.

Benefit adjustment: Benefits are adjusted in December of each year according to changes in the consumer price index and the gross domestic product.

Survivor pension: A pension is paid based on 2% of the insured's last salary and the coverage period, up to a maximum.

If first insured before October 1, 2008, special conditions apply.

A minimum pension is paid.

Survivor settlement: A lump sum is split among survivors according to a schedule.

Funeral grant: A lump sum is paid.

Benefit adjustment: Benefits are adjusted in December of each year according to changes in the consumer price index and the gross domestic product.

Ministry of Labour and Social Security (http://www.calisma.gov.tr) provides general supervision.

Ministry of Labour and Social Security,
Inönü Bulvari No 42,
TR-06520 Emek-Ankara,
Turkey

Tel.: +90-312 212 97 00
Fax: +90-312 212 19 63

Social Security Institution (http://www.sgk.gov.tr,) managed by a general assembly, board of directors, and president, administers the program.

Social Security Institution,
Ziyabey Cad. No 6,
TR-06520 Balgat-Ankara,
Turkey

Tel.: +90-312 207 80 00
Fax: +90-312 207 81 50