Milk allowance is a one-time social benefit paid by the state to mothers who give birth. It aims to help cover feeding and care expenses for newborns. The allowance is available to mothers whether they are insured or uninsured. For 2024, the milk allowance has been set at 520 TL.
Below we answer frequently asked questions about the milk allowance:
- What is the milk allowance and who is eligible?
- How much is the 2024 milk allowance?
- Where do you apply for the milk allowance?
- What are the application requirements?
- When is the milk allowance paid?
- How many times is the milk allowance paid?
- Until when can the milk allowance be claimed?
- Is the allowance paid if insurance ends?
- Is the allowance paid to uninsured mothers?
WHAT IS THE MILK ALLOWANCE?
Milk allowance, also called the
WHO IS ELIGIBLE FOR THE MILK ALLOWANCE?
- The allowance is available to mothers who are insured, whose spouse is insured, or to mothers without any social security coverage.
- It is provided to citizens of the Republic of Turkey.
- The child must be under 5 years old; eligibility depends on the birth having occurred and the child being alive.
- The allowance is paid per child, so mothers of multiple children receive a separate payment for each child.
HOW MUCH IS THE 2024 MILK ALLOWANCE?
The milk allowance is adjusted each year in line with changes to minimum wage. For 2024, the allowance is 520 TL.
WHERE TO APPLY FOR THE MILK ALLOWANCE?
To apply, mothers should prepare the documents below and submit them to SGK provincial or district directorates:
- Milk Allowance Application Form
This form can be obtained from SGK centers or SGK’s website. It collects the mother’s or spouse’s identity information, birth details, bank account information, and the requested allowance amount.
- Birth Certificate
A document showing the newborn’s identity details, available from population registry offices.
- Identity Document
An identity document belonging to the mother or spouse, such as an identity card, driver’s license, passport, or bar association ID.
WHAT ARE THE APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS?
Applicants must meet the following conditions:
- Insurance condition for the mother or spouse
To receive the allowance, the mother or her spouse must be covered under insurance branches 4/A or 4/B and have at least 120 days of premium payments within the year preceding the birth. If neither the mother nor the spouse is insured, the allowance is not payable under the standard insured-based entitlement rules.
- Turkish citizenship condition for the mother or spouse
The mother or spouse must be a citizen of the Republic of Turkey in order to be eligible. Foreign nationals generally do not qualify under this condition.
- Age condition of the newborn
The newborn must be under five years old to qualify for the allowance. Children older than five do not qualify.
- Birth date condition for the newborn
The allowance applies to children born after 2015. Children born before 2015 are not eligible.
- Survival condition of the newborn
The child must be alive at the time of application; if the child has died, the allowance cannot be granted.
WHEN IS THE MILK ALLOWANCE PAID?
After the application is submitted, the milk allowance is typically paid within 15 days. Payments are made to the bank account of the mother or spouse. If there is no bank account, the payment is delivered via PTT and can be collected with the mother’s or spouse’s identity document at PTT branches.
HOW MANY TIMES IS THE MILK ALLOWANCE PAID?
The milk allowance is a one-time payment for each birth. Mothers with multiple births receive a separate payment for each child.
UNTIL WHEN CAN THE MILK ALLOWANCE BE CLAIMED?
The allowance must be claimed within five years from the birth date. This period is the statute of limitations for the payment. If the mother does not apply within five years of the birth, she loses the right to the allowance. Therefore, it is recommended that mothers apply as soon as possible after childbirth.
IS THE ALLOWANCE PAID IF INSURANCE ENDS?
The milk allowance is tied to insurance conditions. If the mother or spouse was insured at the relevant time, they may be eligible. However, if their insurance ends before the application conditions are met, the allowance will not be paid. In other words, if insurance coverage ceases after the birth date, eligibility may be affected for subsequent births.
IS THE ALLOWANCE PAID TO UNINSURED MOTHERS?
The milk allowance can be provided to uninsured mothers as well. If the mother is not insured but her spouse is, she can receive the allowance. If neither the mother nor the spouse has insurance, the mother may still be eligible; in such cases she should apply to the SGK provincial or district directorate with the birth certificate issued by the hospital where the birth took place.