Early retirement conditions for women and men vary depending on the insurance start date, the sector of employment and whether there is a disability. Under early retirement rules, it is possible to move a retirement date earlier by using childbirth, military service and overseas service crediting (borçlanma). There are also specific provisions allowing early retirement for those working in heavy or wear-intensive jobs, people with disabilities, those who used strike or lockout rights, doctoral students, lawyers and doctors.
Below are the main early retirement rules translated and organized for clarity by insurance status and special cases.
Early Retirement Conditions for Disabled Workers (4/A)
For employees under 4/A status who are disabled, early retirement conditions depend on the disability rate and the insurance start date. The required insurance period and contribution days by start date are summarized in the table and explained after:
| 01.10.2008-31.12.2008 | 15 years, 3700 days | 16 years, 3700 days | 18 years, 4100 days |
| 01.01.2009-31.12.2009 | 15 years, 3800 days | 16 years, 3800 days | 18 years, 4200 days |
| 01.01.2010-31.12.2010 | 15 years, 3900 days | 16 years, 3900 days | 18 years, 4300 days |
| 01.01.2011-31.12.2011 | 15 years, 3960 days | 16 years, 4000 days | 18 years, 4400 days |
| 01.01.2012-31.12.2012 | 15 years, 3960 days | 16 years, 4100 days | 18 years, 4500 days |
| 01.01.2013-31.12.2013 | 15 years, 3960 days | 16 years, 4200 days | 18 years, 4600 days |
| 01.01.2014-31.12.2014 | 15 years, 3960 days | 16 years, 4300 days | 18 years, 4680 days |
| From 01.01.2015 | 15 years, 3960 days | 16 years, 4320 days | 18 years, 4680 days |
- 01.10.2008-31.12.2008: Disability rate 60% and over: 15 years, 3,700 days; rate 50–59%: 16 years, 3,700 days; rate 40–49%: 18 years, 4,100 days.
- 01.01.2009-31.12.2009: For 60%+: 15 years, 3,800 days; 50–59%: 16 years, 3,800 days; 40–49%: 18 years, 4,200 days.
- 01.01.2010-31.12.2010: For 60%+: 15 years, 3,900 days; 50–59%: 16 years, 3,900 days; 40–49%: 18 years, 4,300 days.
- 01.01.2011-31.12.2011: For 60%+: 15 years, 3,960 days; 50–59%: 16 years, 4,000 days; 40–49%: 18 years, 4,400 days.
- 01.01.2012-31.12.2012: For 60%+: 15 years, 3,960 days; 50–59%: 16 years, 4,100 days; 40–49%: 18 years, 4,500 days.
- 01.01.2013-31.12.2013: For 60%+: 15 years, 3,960 days; 50–59%: 16 years, 4,200 days; 40–49%: 18 years, 4,680 days.
- 01.01.2014-31.12.2014: For 60%+: 15 years, 3,960 days; 50–59%: 16 years, 4,300 days; 40–49%: 18 years, 4,680 days.
- From 01.01.2015: For 60%+: 15 years, 3,960 days; 50–59%: 16 years, 4,320 days; 40–49%: 18 years, 4,680 days.
Early Retirement Conditions for Self-Employed Disabled (4/B)
Self-employed insured (Bağ-Kur) disabled persons have different early retirement requirements based on disability rate. For those whose insurance started after 01.10.2008, the conditions are:
- Disability 40–49%: 18 years of insured work and 4,680 contribution days.
- Disability 50–59%: 16 years and 4,320 contribution days.
- Disability 60% and above: 15 years and 3,960 contribution days.
| Start Date | 60% and above | 50–59% | 40–49% |
| After 01.10.2008 | 15 years, 3960 days | 16 years, 4320 days | 18 years, 4680 days |
How Early Retirement Conditions Change for Disabled Civil Servants (4/C)
For disabled civil servants (4/C), early retirement rules differ as follows:
- Disabled civil servants appointed to a disabled position qualify for early retirement with 15 years of service and 5,400 contribution days if disability is 40% or higher.
- Those who documented disability with a health board report before becoming a civil servant can also retire early with 15 years and 5,400 days if disability is 40% or higher.
- Individuals born with disability above 40% can retire after 15 years and 5,400 days.
- Civil servants who became disabled later have different contribution day requirements depending on the disability level: for 40–49% the required contribution days are higher than for 50–59% (specific days vary by case and should be confirmed with the authority).
| Disabled Civil Servants | Disability Rate | Qualification |
| Civil servants appointed with disabled status | 40% and above | 15 years, 5400 days |
| Those with report prior to employment | 40% and above | 15 years, 5400 days |
| Born with disability above 40% | 40% and above | 15 years, 5400 days |
| Civil servants who became disabled later | 40–49% | Higher contribution days required (subject to assessment) |
Early Retirement for Women with a Disabled Child
The rules for insured women with a disabled child are the same across insurance branches. For premiums paid after 01.10.2008, one quarter of the contribution days relating to the period caring for the disabled child can be added to the total contribution days and this added time is also deducted from the age requirement.
If the disabled child dies or the disability ends, the period between the date of the disabled health board report and the date the disability ends is credited at a rate of one quarter to the contribution days.
To use this right, the disabled child must be documented as requiring the care of another person by a health board report accepted by the social security institution.
Agricultural Insurance Retirement Table for Men
For men seeking retirement under SSK agricultural insurance (EK5), the general conditions by first paid premium date are:
| Date of first premium payment | Requirements | Age requirement |
| On or before 08.09.1999 | 25 years of insurance, 5000 days | None |
| 08.09.1999–30.04.2008 | 20 years of insurance, 7000 days | 60 |
| From 01.05.2008 | 7,200 days | 60 |
Agricultural Insurance Retirement Table for Women
For women under SSK agricultural insurance (EK5), the conditions by first premium date are:
| Date of first premium payment | Required conditions | Age requirement |
| On or before 08.09.1999 | 5,000 days, 20 years of insurance | None |
| 08.09.1999–30.04.2008 | 7,000 days, 20 years | 58 |
| From 01.05.2008 | 7,200 days | 58 |
Early Retirement for Lawyers
Lawyers can gain earlier retirement by crediting their mandatory legal internship period. After graduating from law school, lawyers complete a 12‑month internship (6 months in courts and 6 months under a lawyer). During that time they are typically uninsured. By obtaining an official document from the bar association that confirms the internship period and submitting a formal application to the Social Security regional office, they can buy back (credit) that period and move their retirement date earlier by the length of the credited period.
Early Retirement for Those Who Age Prematurely (4/A)
Early aging for SSK insured persons can qualify for early retirement if recognized by the social security authority with a medical report. Conditions depend on whether the insurance start date is before or after 01.10.2008.
- Those with insurance start before 01.10.2008 can retire with age 50 and 5,000 contribution days. Alternatively, they may retire at 50 with 3,600 days and 15 years of insurance without waiting to reach 5,000 days.
- Those with insurance start after 01.10.2008 generally need to reach age 55 and 5,400 contribution days to qualify under early aging provisions.
| Insurance start before 01.10.2008 | Insurance start after 01.10.2008 |
| Age 50 and 5,000 days | Age 55 and at least 5,400 days |
| Or age 50 with 3,600 days and 15 years of insurance |
Early Aging Conditions for Bağ-Kur and Civil Pension Funds (4/B – 4/C)
For early aging cases under Bağ-Kur and pension fund schemes, the general requirement is age 55 and 5,400 contribution days. Men and women alike may qualify if a health report documents premature aging due to working conditions or environmental factors.
Early Retirement Conditions for Miners (4/A)
Miners have special early retirement rules because of the high-risk nature of the work. Conditions vary by start date and whether work is continuous or alternating (münavebeli):
- Those who started before 09.1999: continuous workers may retire at 50 with 5,000 days; alternating workers may retire at 50 with 15 years and 3,600 days.
- Those who started between 09.1999 and 30.09.2008: continuous miners may retire at 50 with 7,000 days; alternating miners at 50 with 25 years and 4,500 days.
- Those who started before 01.10.2008: continuous workers may retire after 20 years and 5,000 days; alternating workers after 25 years and 4,000 days.
- Those who started after 01.10.2008: miners seeking early retirement due to wear-and-tear generally need to meet 50 years of age, 20 years of work and 7,200 days.
| Start Date | Work Type | Insurance Period | Days | Age |
| Before 08.09.1999 | Continuous | — | 5,000 | 50 |
| Before 08.09.1999 | Alternating | 15 | 3,600 | 50 |
| 09.09.1999–30.09.2008 | Continuous | — | 7,000 | 50 |
| 09.09.1999–30.09.2008 | Alternating | 25 | 4,500 | 50 |
| Before 01.10.2008 | Continuous | 20 | 5,000 | — |
| Before 01.10.2008 | Alternating | 25 | 4,000 | — |
| After 01.10.2008 | Continuous or Alternating | 20 | 7,200 | 50 |
Early Retirement for Workers in Heavy and Wear-Intensive Jobs (4/A)
From 01.10.2008, workers in designated heavy and wear-intensive jobs receive additional annual credited days to their contributions. These extra days accelerate pension entitlement. Annual additions are typically 60, 90 or 180 days depending on the job.
- Lead and arsenic workers: +60 days per year.
- Health personnel: +60 days per year.
- Cement and aluminum factory workers: +60 days per year.
- Glass factories and similar industries: +90 days per year.
- Work with mercury, acid production, radioactive materials and pressurized underwater work: +90 or +180 days depending on the activity.
- Underground work: +180 days per year.
| Workplaces Covered | Annual Extra Days |
| Lead and arsenic work | 60 |
| Glass factories and workshops | 90 |
| Mercury production and related industries | 90 |
| Cement factories | 60 |
| Furnaces and thermal power plants | 60 |
| Aluminum factories | 60 |
| Iron and steel factories | 90 |
| Foundries | 60 |
| Acid production facilities | 90 |
| Underground work | 180 |
| Radioactive environments | 90 |
| Underwater or pressurized-air underwater work | 90 |
| Press and journalism professions (with valid press card) | 90 |
| TRT and certain state artistic institutions | 90 or 180 depending on role |
| Health personnel | 60 |
Early Retirement for Civil Servants in Wear-Intensive Jobs (4/C)
For civil servants, wear-related early retirement is calculated by adding annual extra days to their contribution record. Since 01.10.2008, various public service jobs have specified annual additions:
- Firefighters: +60 days per year.
- Health staff: +60 days per year.
- Prison and enforcement staff: +90 days per year.
- Military, police and intelligence staff: +90 days per year.
- Divers and miners (public sector): +180 days per year.
| Covered Jobs | Annual Extra Days |
| Military, Police, Intelligence | 90 |
| Divers | 180 |
| Miners | 180 |
| Radiation environments | 180 |
| Firefighting | 60 |
| Health personnel | 60 |
| Prison and enforcement staff | 60 |
| Additional professions added after 01.10.2008 | Annual Extra Days |
| Locomotive drivers and firemen, specific workshop and factory roles, ship stokers | 180 |
| State theatre artists, orchestra members, press advisers, certain TRT news staff | 180 |
| Agricultural quarantine and related tasks | 60 |
Military Service Crediting (Askerlik Borçlanması) for Early Retirement
Crediting military service can help reach early retirement earlier. Key points:
- Crediting rules apply to 4A, 4B and 4C insured persons and have evolved in periodic updates.
- Repayment amounts are calculated on current minimum amounts when applied.
- Insured men can generally credit actual time served; for example, an 18‑month service can be credited as that full period or treated in shorter units as allowed by regulation.
- Those exempt from military service cannot benefit from this crediting.
- Applicants must have served as a rank-and-file soldier or non-commissioned officer where applicable; certain preparatory school periods can be credited if eligible.
Application steps for crediting military service:
- SSK and Bağ-Kur insured applicants should apply at local SGK provincial or district directorates.
- Civil servants under 4C apply through their employing institution.
- Complete the official application form and submit original and photocopy of ID.
- Provide all required documents; incomplete files may delay approval.
- Once approved, payment of contributions must be completed within the prescribed period (often 30 days) to finalize the crediting.
Childbirth Crediting (Doğum Borçlanması) for Early Retirement
To benefit from childbirth crediting for early retirement, general conditions include:
- The mother must have been insured before the childbirth date to claim crediting for that birth.
- Those who gave birth before becoming insured are not eligible for childbirth crediting for early retirement.
- The child must be alive; if the child dies, crediting can be applied for the period up to the child’s death.
- No social security contributions should have been paid for the same period after the birth.
How to Apply for Childbirth Crediting via E-Government (e-Devlet)
You can apply for childbirth crediting online through the e-Government portal. After obtaining the e-Government password from PTT, follow the portal’s application process and complete identity verification to submit the request.
- Access the relevant e-Government application for 4A childbirth crediting and follow on-screen steps.
- Authenticate with your e-Government credentials and complete the required form.
- Alternatively, apply in person at Social Security provincial or district directorates if you prefer a paper application.
Early Retirement for Women Who Adopt
Women who adopt may be eligible for childbirth crediting under certain conditions. Main rules:
- The adopted child must be under two years old at the time of adoption for the adopting mother to use childbirth crediting.
- The crediting period starts from the adoption date.
- If the adopting mother later places the child for adoption, the crediting period may be limited (for example, to six months) depending on regulations.
What Is Partial Retirement?
Partial retirement refers to qualifying for retirement earlier based on meeting certain age, contribution day and insurance period thresholds. To be eligible for partial retirement, one must have:
- A minimum number of contribution days,
- A required insurance period,
- And meet the age criterion.
Typical contribution day thresholds associated with age-based partial retirement include 3,600, 4,500 and 5,400 days. Example age bands when 3,600 days and 15 years of insurance are met illustrate how retirement age gradually increased by cohorts. Exact retirement ages depend on the date the qualifying conditions were completed and differ for men and women; these cohort-based ages should be checked against current official tables when calculating individual eligibility.