How much is military service debt repayment for 2024 and how is it done? With the determination of the minimum wage, the lowest and highest amounts used to calculate related premiums have also been set. Our table below shows how much you would pay if you make a military service repayment.
For 2024, the Social Security Institution (SGK) has set the premiums for military service debt in proportion to the minimum wage. Following the Minimum Wage Determination Commission decision on the minimum wage, the premium bases for both childbirth debt and military service debt have been recalculated.
What Is Military Service Debt Repayment?
Military service debt repayment commonly applies to those who served as privates or non-commissioned officers. It also covers people who attended reserve officer school. Those who wish to move their social security start date earlier must meet the following conditions:
- Only people who performed military service before their social security contributions began can apply for debt repayment to move their insurance start date earlier.
- When they complete the military service repayment procedure, their insurance start date can be adjusted backward to include the military service period.
- This adjustment can provide an advantage for earlier retirement.
- To benefit from early retirement opportunities, the relevant premium days must be fully paid.
How Much Is Military Service Debt Repayment in 2024?
How much is military service debt for 2024? With the January 2024 minimum wage adjustment, those who wish to buy back 540 days of military service must pay at least 115,214.40 TL. According to SGK, the following types of repayments are calculated as 7.5 times the minimum wage:
- Childbirth debt repayment
- Overseas service debt repayment
- Military service debt repayment
Military service repayment amounts for 01.01.2024 – 30.06.2024:
| Daily minimum repayment amount | 213.36 TL |
| 15 months (450 days) | 96,012.00 TL |
| 18 months (540 days) | 115,214.40 TL |
| 20 months (600 days) | 128,016.00 TL |
Individuals who wish to buy back military service can calculate the amount based on the daily minimum and any chosen higher bases. The total amount has upper and lower limits calculated from the minimum wage. The daily minimum premium is calculated as 32% of the minimum wage.
How to Apply for Military Service Debt Repayment?
Men who want to buy back military service should calculate the period they spent under arms in previous years and apply accordingly. Military service repayment is available to men who meet one of the following conditions:
- Served as a private under arms
- Served as a non-commissioned officer under arms
- Served in reserve officer school
Men who meet any of these conditions can submit a repayment notification to SGK. To apply, they should visit the nearest SGK branch and follow these steps:
- The applicant should bring documentation proving the period served in the military to the SGK branch.
- To initiate the repayment, the applicant pays the relevant premiums for the military service period at the branch.
Applicants can choose the premium base according to their budget. The daily minimum to be paid is set at 213.36 TL. Multiply this daily amount by the number of days you want to buy back to determine the total payment.
If desired, applicants may choose a higher daily base than the minimum; this reduces the number of days needed to reach the desired coverage and can help secure earlier retirement.
How Is Military Service Debt Calculated?
To calculate military service debt, applicants should first determine the exact period they want to buy back. They also need the following details:
- The date range of the military service period to be repaid
- The total number of days to be repaid
- The daily premium amount to be paid
Use the daily amount multiplied by the total days to compute the repayment total. If you choose a higher daily base, recalculate using that figure to see the impact on the total cost and days covered.
How to Submit a Military Service Repayment Application?
The application process for military service repayment proceeds as follows:
- Applications can be made through any Social Security Institution branch.
- Before visiting, print and complete the e-Government application form if required.
- Bring all necessary documents to the appointment.
- SGK verifies the information after the repayment request is submitted.
- If SGK approves the request, repayment is authorized.
- The repayment declaration will be sent to the applicant’s registered e-Government address.
- Make the payment to the IBAN provided on the declaration.
- If no IBAN is provided, payment can be made directly at SGK cash desks.
Documents Required for Military Service Repayment Application
The documents required to apply for military service repayment typically include:
- Applicant’s identity card and a photocopy
- Military service repayment application form
- Information about the last workplace; if the applicant left that job for reasons other than military service, a separation document
- The retirement certification and declaration form when required
- Discharge certificate proving completion of military service
Submit these documents to the Social Security Institution when applying.
How to Apply Online for Military Service Repayment?
To apply online, use the e-Government portal. The general steps are:
- Log in to the e-Government portal with your credentials.
- e-Government access requires a password obtained from PTT for first-time users; follow the password change steps on first login.
- After changing the initial PTT password, log in with your ID number and new password.
- From the e-Services section, access the Social Security Institution services.
- Select the 4A Military Service Repayment section.
- If you have no prior request, the system will indicate there is no existing claim. If you have a previous claim, its result will be displayed.
- If you have no request, choose “create request” to complete and submit the repayment form online.
For faster processing, print the submitted form and take it with you to the nearest SGK office.
Where Is Military Service Repayment Paid?
Payments for military service repayment can be made at any SGK branch. If you prefer not to visit a branch, payments are also possible online by credit or debit card. Installment payments are not available for SGK or bank transactions.
To pay online by card:
- Search for SGK Payments or SGK Repayment on a payment portal.
- Log in using your identity number.
- Select the “Pay Military Service Repayment by Card” option.
- You will be asked to log in to e-Government and verify your identity.
- After verification, choose the payment page and select “Other Collections” as the query type.
- For query type, choose “SGK Debt Collection.”
- Enter your card number, expiry date and CVV to complete the payment.
How Far Back Does Military Service Repayment Move Your Retirement Date?
When moving the retirement date backward via military service repayment, SGK uses the earliest recorded employment start date under SSK or BAĞKUR. The buyback can move the effective insurance start date backward only up to the military service period if that service occurred before any insured employment began.
If military service occurred after the first recorded employment start date, it does not move the start date backward. SGK does not treat the employment start date and military entry date as the same day unless the military service predates any employment. The backward adjustment is calculated based on the date of the repayment application and the proven military service periods.
Effects of repayment on contributors include:
- Contributors who purchase back periods after their insurance start date will see those purchased days reflected in their premium records.
- The total number of premium days increases according to the added periods.
- Buying back military days does not always automatically advance the retirement date; it depends on the individual’s employment and contribution history.
- Only those who completed military service before starting work can move their insurance start date backward by the purchased period.
What Are the Advantages of Military Service Repayment?
Key advantages of buying back military service include increasing total contribution days. Those who complete a 2024 SGK military repayment and meet the following conditions may qualify for earlier retirement:
- Completion of the required insured employment period
- Meeting the age requirement for early retirement
- If work days alone are insufficient for retirement, having served enough days as a private or non-commissioned officer to fill the missing days
Those who meet these conditions can remove the shortfall in contribution days and may qualify for retirement earlier by counting their military days toward the required total.