In 2025, significant changes were made to widow, orphan and death pensions. Widow and orphan pensions are intended to provide financial security to family members left behind after the death of an insured person. With the latest regulations, pension amounts and application procedures have been updated. Below you will find clear, practical information about widow, orphan and death pensions, eligibility, documents required, application steps and how payments are calculated.
What Are Widow, Orphan and Death Pensions?
Widow, orphan and death pensions are regular payments granted to the spouse, children and, under certain conditions, the parents of a deceased insured person. Known also as death pensions, these benefits aim to partially offset the family’s loss of income and are an important component of the social security system.
Who Is Eligible for Widow, Orphan and Death Pensions?
Eligible recipients include close relatives of the deceased insured person:
- Spouse: the legally married partner of the deceased.
- Children: children who meet the specified age and dependency conditions.
- Parents: in certain cases, parents who are financially dependent and meet the criteria.
What Documents Are Required to Apply?
Required documents for widow, orphan and death pensions typically include:
- Application petition
- Copy of national ID card
- Household registration certificate (vukuatlı nüfus kayıt örneği)
- Death certificate
- Copy of marriage certificate
Note: These documents should be submitted to the provincial or district Social Security Institution (SGK) office. Keep original documents available for verification at the time of application.
What Are the Eligibility Conditions?
To qualify for widow and orphan pensions, the following conditions are generally required:
- The insured must have paid at least 1800 days of contributions in total.
- For those insured under 4/1-(a): the insured must have at least five years of insurance and a total of 900 days of contributions.
Warning: For self-employed insured persons, there must be no outstanding contributions or related debts for dependents to receive a death pension.
How to Apply for Widow, Orphan and Death Pensions?
To apply for a widow or orphan pension, follow these steps:
- Prepare the necessary documents.
- Submit your application to the SGK provincial or district office.
- Track the status of your application.
Note: Applications can also be submitted via the e-Government portal (e-Devlet) where available for death aid and widow-orphan pension requests.
How Much Are Widow and Orphan Pensions in 2025?
Following the 2025 adjustments, typical pension amounts are set as follows; actual amounts depend on the deceased insured person’s pension and the specific circumstances of the beneficiaries:
- Minimum pension level (reference): 14,469 TL
- Pension for spouse at 75% rate: 10,851 TL
- Pension for spouse at 50% rate: 7,234.50 TL
- Pension for child at 25% rate: 3,617.25 TL
Note: These percentages are applied to the deceased’s pension base and can vary according to family composition and other legal rules.
How to Check Your Pension Status?
You can check the status and amount of your pension using these methods:
- e-Government Portal (e-Devlet): Log in to the SGK services to view pension details.
- SGK Provincial/District Offices: Visit your local SGK office for in-person inquiries.
- Phone: Call the relevant social security contact center (Alo 170) for guidance.
How Much of Her Father’s Pension Does a Widowed Woman Receive?
A widowed woman may receive an orphan’s pension equal to 25% of the deceased father’s pension. If there are no other entitled beneficiaries or certain conditions are met, that rate can increase up to 50%. The widow must not be receiving an independent pension or income from her own insurance in most cases.
Can a Widowed Woman Receive Both Her Father’s and Husband’s Pensions?
Yes, a widowed woman can receive pensions from both a deceased husband and a deceased father, but the payments are usually calculated as specified percentages rather than full pensions. For example, she might receive 50% of the husband’s pension and 25% of the father’s, depending on other beneficiaries and legal conditions.
Can a Widowed Woman Receive Three Pensions?
Under certain circumstances a widowed woman may receive three different payments—for instance, her own retirement pension plus a widow’s pension from a deceased husband and an orphan’s pension from a deceased father. Whether she receives multiple payments, and at what rates, depends on the types of pensions involved, insurance branches and applicable legal rules. Payments are often adjusted and reduced according to overlapping benefit regulations.
When Is a Child’s Death Pension Stopped?
Death pensions granted to children are subject to age and status limits:
- Until age 18: for children not pursuing education.
- Until age 20: for children in secondary education.
- Until age 25: for children in higher education.
Payments stop when male children reach the applicable age limit, start working in a job covered by social security, or receive their own pension or income. For female children, there is no automatic age cutoff, but the pension ends if they marry, begin insured employment, or receive their own pension or income.
How to Claim Accumulated Death Pensions?
If beneficiaries did not apply immediately after the insured person’s death, accumulated unpaid pensions can be claimed as a lump sum. The application must be made within five years from the date of death; after this period, accumulated payments cannot be claimed. Submit the required documents and apply at the SGK provincial office where the deceased’s file is kept.
Can a Pension Recipient Who Receives Widow’s Pay Work?
Yes, recipients of widow’s pensions can work as insured employees. Employment does not automatically terminate the widow’s pension, but the pension rate may change depending on whether the recipient receives income or a pension from their own insurance.
For example:
- If the widow has no dependent child receiving a pension and is not employed, the spouse’s pension may be paid at 75% of the applicable rate.
- If she works or has her own pension or income, that rate may be reduced to 50%.
Can a Mother Receive Her Deceased Son’s Pension?
Under specific conditions, a deceased insured person’s parents can be entitled to a death pension. Parents’ total income from all sources must be below the net amount of the statutory minimum wage, and they must not receive another pension or income. If parents are under 65, an unpaid share from the insured person’s entitled spouse or children is required; if they are over 65, the unpaid share condition is waived.
When Is the Death Grant Paid?
The death grant, also known as the funeral allowance, is a one-time payment made to the eligible dependents of a deceased insured person. After the application is submitted, the allowance is usually paid to beneficiaries’ bank accounts or via postal services within a short period. An application to the Social Security Institution is required to receive the death grant.