The 2024 regulations for disability retirement (malulen emeklilik) have been revised to address identified gaps. To qualify for disability retirement, an employee must generally have at least 10 years of insured service and a total of 1,800 days of premium payments within that period.
For those who are permanently dependent on another person’s care, the years-of-service requirement is waived; however, they must still have 1,800 days of contributions recorded under disability, old-age, or death insurance. Applicants can submit their requests to the relevant units of the Social Security Provincial or Central Directorates where they are registered.
How to Become Eligible for Disability Retirement
To apply for disability retirement you must usually meet the 10-year insurance requirement and have 1,800 days of paid premiums. Eligible applicants can apply at the Social Security Provincial Directorate and must present all required documents.
The steps to apply for disability retirement are:
- Submit a written application to the SGK Provincial Directorate using the prescribed form.
- Obtain a medical board report from a full-service health institution designated by SGK for determination of disability.
- Submit that medical board report to the SGK Provincial Directorate to initiate the process.
WARNING: Even if you have a medical board report related to your illness, SGK may not accept it. After applying, you must obtain a report from the full-service medical institution directed by SGK. For more information, consult guidance on full-service medical board reports.
40% Disability Retirement Requirement
Accurate assessment of disability percentages affects retirement eligibility. Disabled individuals can, in some cases, retire regardless of age requirements that apply to other insured workers.
According to medical board reports, those with 40% to 49% loss of working capacity fall under the 40% disability retirement rule. Under this rule:
- 18 years of insured service is required, and
- A minimum of 4,100 days of contributions must be met.
Under the new law, those who were first insured between 1 October 2008 and 1 January 2015 may retire under transitional conditions defined by phased provisions.
Disability Retirement Conditions Under the New Law
The criteria for disability retirement have changed with the new law. The main conditions now required are:
- 10 years of insured service,
- 1,800 SGK premium days,
- At least 60% loss of working capacity
If a person is permanently dependent on another’s care, the 10-year service requirement is not applied, and they may retire once their premium payments are sufficient.
Disability Percentages for Retirement
Diseases that commonly lead to entitlement to a disability pension include:
- Various cancers
- Epilepsy
- Brain tumors
- Cerebral palsy
- Intellectual disability (IQ 50 and below)
- Severe visual impairment
- Hearing loss
- Balance disorders
- Loss of organs or limbs
- Liver cirrhosis or liver transplantation
- Heart valve disease causing failure
- AIDS
- Respiratory diseases
- Endocrine and metabolic disorders
Criteria for being permanently dependent on another’s care include:
- Paralysis in both arms or both legs
- Psychotic disorders requiring inpatient psychiatric treatment
- Total blindness in both eyes
- Severe nutritional disorders
- Permanent dependence on a respiratory device
- Inability to carry out daily living activities
- Loss of arm(s) or leg(s)
Disability Retirement with 3,600 Days
Those who began working before 1 October 2008 and have a disability rate of 80% or more according to the medical board report are considered to meet the conditions for disability retirement under SGK if they have 15 years of service and 3,600 contribution days.
Disability pension table: Refer to official SGK resources for current pension amounts and eligibility details.
Disability Report Percentages
Report percentages for disability retirement are regulated by Article 28, paragraph 5 of Law No. 5510. For those with a loss of working capacity below 60% but above 40%:
- If the disability falls between 50%–59%, the applicant must have at least 16 years of insured service and 4,320 days of contributions.
- If the disability falls between 40%–49%, the applicant must have at least 18 years of insured service and 4,680 days of contributions.
If these individuals are registered for disability, old-age, and death insurance, they can receive an old-age pension without an age requirement.
Disability Retirement Table
The disability retirement table clarifies the required premium days and insured service periods. In addition to being insured for at least 10 years and having 1,800 contribution days since the employment start date:
- The loss of working capacity must be confirmed as at least 60% by a medical board report, and
- If the applicant is permanently dependent on another’s care, the years-of-service requirement does not apply.
BAĞ-KUR insured persons must not have overdue premium debts in order to apply for disability retirement.
2024 Disability Retirement Conditions
Disability retirement conditions are governed by Law No. 5510 on Social Insurances and General Health Insurance. Under Article 25 of the same law, disability assessment procedures can be initiated upon request by the insured person or their employer through a medical report.
According to this law:
- For insureds under 4A and 4B, work accidents or occupational diseases must cause at least a 60% loss of working capacity to qualify.
- Public sector employees may be eligible for disability retirement even if the loss of capacity is below 60% when deemed appropriate.
Disability pension entitlement may arise not only from occupational accidents but also from common diseases in the community.
You may consult guidance on disability retirement with 1,800 days for detailed explanations.
BAĞ-KUR Disability Retirement Conditions
BAĞ-KUR members must obtain the required medical board report themselves. They should first apply to the SGK centers in their province or district. After referral by the authorized institutions, the medical report process begins.
BAĞ-KUR members are not subject to an age requirement for disability retirement.
Nevertheless, they must meet:
- 10 years of insured service, and
- 1,800 days of disability insurance contributions.
For those permanently dependent on another’s care, the service duration is waived, but premium payments must be complete. Any outstanding premium debt, including General Health Insurance contributions, prevents entitlement to disability retirement even if the disability criteria are met.
Disability Retirement Conditions for Women
For women, the insurance start date and their insured age are important. Women who have worked without formal insurance registration may not qualify for disability retirement if their insured service period is not sufficient when a health problem arises.
Women who have a severely disabled child permanently dependent on another’s care are credited with an additional contribution equal to one quarter of the child’s insurance days, and their retirement age may be reduced accordingly.
Disability Retirement Conditions for Men
Under social legislation, men who lose at least 60% of their working capacity may be eligible for disability retirement.
- Possess a medical board report,
- Have completed required premium days, and
- Have 10 years of insured service, with the loss of capacity occurring after the employment start date.
The importance of maintaining insured employment cannot be overstated.
Disability Retirement Age
According to Article 28, paragraph 5 of Law No. 5510, insured workers whose loss of working capacity is proven by a medical board report are entitled to disability or old-age benefits without any age requirement, provided they have completed the necessary contribution period.
In other words: there is no age requirement for disability retirement when eligibility criteria are met.
Advantages of Disability Retirement
Workers who lose working capacity due to a work accident or other causes after their insurance start date may be granted disability retirement. These individuals receive a pension to compensate for their loss of earning capacity without having to continue working.
Checking Disability Retirement Status
You can quickly check disability retirement status via the e-Government (e-devlet) system. After logging in, accessing document tracking or relevant SGK services will allow you to follow your application.
Which Diseases Are Covered by Disability Retirement?
- Visual impairment
- Retinal hemorrhages
- Hearing loss
- Anemia
- Behçet’s disease
- Gastrointestinal bleeding
- Liver cirrhosis
- Liver transplantation
- Epilepsy
- Dementia
- Brain tumors
- Bipolar disorder
- Loss of limb(s)
- Heart failure
- Parkinsonism
- Cerebral palsy
- Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
- Intellectual disability (IQ 50 and below)
- Schizophrenia
- Heart valve diseases
- Endocrine and metabolic disorders
- Respiratory diseases
- Heart transplantation
- Kidney transplantation
- Lung transplantation
- Tuberculosis
- AIDS
Which Psychiatric Disorders May Qualify?
- Schizophrenia
- Bipolar disorder
- Alzheimer’s disease
- Dementia
Type 2 Diabetes and Disability Retirement
For a Type 2 diabetes patient to qualify for disability retirement, at least three organs must be damaged as a consequence of the disease.
How Long Does a Disability Retirement Decision Take?
Decisions on disability retirement are typically concluded within one to five months. Tests, treatments, and further examinations can extend this timeframe.
Anxiety Disorder and Disability Retirement
Anxiety disorders may lead to disability retirement if a medical board determines a minimum 60% loss of working capacity and functioning does not improve despite treatment.
Cervical Disc Herniation and Disability Retirement
Unless it causes severe and multiple health problems, cervical disc herniation alone typically does not qualify for disability retirement.
Diabetes and Disability Retirement
Diabetes leads to disability retirement entitlement when it causes damage to at least three organs. Specific assessments are detailed in the SGK Disability Determination Regulation.
Sleep Apnea and Disability Retirement
Patients receiving PAP therapy for sleep-related breathing disorders who cannot adequately comply with treatment may receive incapacity reports up to 35%. The minimum threshold for retirement is 60% loss of working capacity.
Aortic Valve Failure and Disability Retirement
Heart diseases are covered under disability retirement, provided the applicant documents at least a 60% loss of working capacity with a medical board report.
Hepatitis B and Retirement
If Hepatitis B progresses to cirrhosis, it is considered to cause a loss of working capacity. Hepatitis B carriers may be eligible for certain exemptions or disability assessments where applicable.
Retirement for Heart Patients
Heart patients must document their loss of working capacity with a medical board report to be considered for disability retirement.
AIDS and Disability Retirement
AIDS is included among the conditions that may qualify for disability retirement.
Organ Transplantation and Disability Retirement
Organ transplantation generally supports eligibility for disability retirement, but applicants must document their loss of working capacity with a medical board report. Recent revisions have increased the recognized loss of capacity for kidney transplant recipients from 40% to 70%, enabling greater access to disability retirement for these patients.
Hearing Loss and Disability Retirement
The key factor for hearing loss is whether the loss of working capacity due to an occupational accident or occupational disease reaches at least 60%. If so, an application for disability retirement is possible.