Check Widow and Orphan Pension Eligibility on E-Devlet

You can check survivor (widow/widower) and orphan pensions through the e-government portal by signing in and completing identity verification. Those who meet the conditions for a survivor or orphan pension receive monthly payments after documenting the insured relative’s death and their eligibility.

Applications and status checks for survivor and orphan pensions can be made in person, by phone, or online. A widow(er) without children receives 75% of the entitlement, while a widow(er) with children receives 50%. Orphan pensions are shared equally among the deceased insured person’s children from a 50% entitlement based on the number of children.

How Can You Apply for Survivor and Orphan Pensions?

Application methods for survivor and orphan pensions include:

Creating a survivor/orphan pension request via the e-government system.
Calling the Alo 170 hotline to apply by phone.
Applying through Social Security Institution (SGK) provincial or district directorates.
If the deceased was retired under the 4/C insurance branch, beneficiaries may apply by mail. Documents should be sent to the Retirement Services General Directorate, Public Servants Retirement Department at Mithatpaşa Caddesi No:7 Sıhhiye/ANKARA.

How to Create a Survivor/Orphan Pension Request on E-Government

To apply for survivor or orphan pension through the e-government portal, follow these steps:

Go to https://www.turkiye.gov.tr.
Click the Sign In button on the homepage and complete identity verification. Accepted methods include e-government password, mobile signature, electronic signature, Turkish ID card, or internet banking. E-government passwords can be obtained from PTT branches.
From the e-services list, find the Social Security Institution (SGK).
Under SGK services, select “Death Assistance and Survivor/Orphan Pension Request.”
Enter the Turkish ID number of the deceased relative from whom you will receive the pension.
Click the Apply button. Your request will be submitted. If the application is approved, the monthly pension will be paid to the applicant.

Apply for Orphan Pension

How to Apply by Phone

To apply via call center, call the Alo 170 line. After providing the deceased insured person’s details and the applicant’s identity information, the operator can complete the application on your behalf.

How to Apply Through SGK

To apply at SGK, visit the provincial or district offices with the required documents. Inform the staff that you are applying for a death pension; provide the deceased insured person’s identification details to complete the application.

Who Can Apply for Survivor and Orphan Pensions?

Eligible applicants include the deceased insured person’s spouse, children, and parents.

What Conditions Must the Deceased Insured Person Meet?

Conditions for qualification for a death pension include:

The deceased insured must have at least 1,800 premium days paid under disability, old-age, or death insurance.
Excluding credited periods, the insured must have at least 5 years of insured service, and a total of 900 days paid under disability, old-age, and death insurance.

Requirements to Apply for a Widow(er) Pension

Widow(er) pension application conditions include:

The death must have occurred during a legally recognized marriage to the insured person.
Divorced persons or those in a religious-only marriage (imam marriage) are not entitled to the widow(er) pension.
The applicant must not have remarried after the spouse’s death.
Both men and women can receive widow(er) pensions. A key criterion is that the applicant must not be employed as an insured worker.

Requirements to Apply for an Orphan Pension

Orphan pension eligibility rules are as follows:

Both sons and daughters must not be employed as insured workers. They must also not be subject to foreign country regulations regarding employment.
Female children have no age or education limits: if unmarried, they receive the pension for life.
Male children receive the pension until age 20 if not in university, and until age 25 if they are university students. Those not in any educational institution receive it until age 18.
Female children lose entitlement upon marriage (with exceptions, see below). Male children retain eligibility even after marriage until they reach the relevant age based on their education status.

Conditions for Disabled Children to Receive an Orphan Pension

Eligibility conditions for disabled children are:

They must have lost at least 60% of their working capacity, documented by a medical board report.
Regardless of age, gender, or marital status, disabled children who meet the conditions may receive the orphan pension for life as long as their eligibility remains.

When Is a Disabled Child’s Orphan Pension Cut?

Disabled children’s orphan pensions are stopped in these circumstances:

If they begin working in situations outside the scope defined by law or under foreign legislation, the orphan pension is cut.
If the disabled child acquires income due to their own insured employment, the orphan pension is suspended.
If control examinations show that the disability no longer meets the 60% loss threshold and the disability ends, the death pension is terminated.

Required Documents for Survivor and Orphan Pension Applications

Documents typically required for the application are:

Three passport-size photographs of the applicant.
Identity document (ID card).
Certified population registry extract (vukuatlı nüfus kayıt örneği).
Death certificate of the insured.
Completed survivor/orphan pension application form.
Male student applicants must provide documentation of their education status when eligibility depends on their studies.
If the applicant has a disability, a medical board report is required.
If a guardian has been appointed for an eligible beneficiary, the guardianship decree is requested.

How to Obtain a Death Certificate for the Pension Application

Death certificates are issued by population directorates. In most cases, you first apply to provincial public health directorates and then obtain the document from the population directorate. If the death occurred in a hospital, you can obtain the death certificate directly from the population directorate. The deceased person’s identity document is sufficient to obtain the certificate.

How to Check the Status of a Pension Application

Ways to check application status include:

Contacting Alo 170 to get information on the application’s current status.
Checking through the e-government portal.
Visiting the institution where you applied and requesting a status update in person.

How to Check Application Status by Phone

Call Alo 170 and answer identity verification questions. After confirming your identity, provide the deceased person’s ID details. The operator will inform you whether the application is pending, approved, or, if a pension has been granted, details about the payment.

How to Check Pension Status on E-Government

To view survivor and orphan pension information on the e-government portal:

Sign in to the e-government system.
Navigate the e-services list or Institutions menu to find the Ministry of Family, Labour and Social Services.
Click the Social Assistance Information Inquiry option.
After identity verification, you will see details of benefits received, including survivor or orphan pensions: the duration of payments and the amount paid.

Check Orphan Pension

How to Check SGK Survivor and Orphan Pensions in Person

To check at SGK, find the local provincial or district SGK office and visit with your ID. Staff can confirm whether the application was approved, the amount to be paid if approved, or the reason for rejection if applicable.

When Are Survivor and Orphan Pensions Paid?

Pension payments are typically made within a few weeks after the death and application. Once the application is submitted, payment is usually processed within about 15 days and may be issued within the same month.

Where Are Survivor and Orphan Pensions Paid?

Initial pension payments are usually made through Ziraat Bank. Beneficiaries with Ziraat accounts receive their first monthly payment there. Those without an account can collect payments from PTT branches with ID. To have future payments deposited in another bank, update your bank account information via the e-government portal.

When Are Survivor and Orphan Pensions Terminated?

Situations that terminate the pension include:

If the spouse or child responsible for the deceased caused the death, they are not eligible for survivor or orphan pensions.
If the deceased left a will expressly excluding pension payments to the spouse or children, those beneficiaries cannot claim the pension.
Female children lose the orphan pension upon marriage, with limited exceptions (for example, if the spouse is a war-disabled person, special rules may apply).
If a surviving spouse remarries, the widow(er) pension is cut.
If the pension recipient is found living with a non-related person in the same household, the pension may be suspended.
Loss of Turkish citizenship or renunciation of it results in termination of the pension.

Can Those Whose Pensions Were Cut Receive Payments Again?

In many cases, pensions can be reinstated if eligibility is restored. For example, women who lost the orphan pension due to marriage may regain it if they later divorce. Former spouses who divorced and later meet conditions may reapply for widow(er) pensions. However, male children who have reached age 25 and lost eligibility generally cannot resume the orphan pension.

How Is the Deceased Person’s Pension Distributed?

Distribution among entitled family members follows these principles:

If the spouse’s share is set as two units, each child receives one unit. Distribution does not differentiate by the children’s gender.
A single child may receive up to 25% of the pension; the spouse’s share is typically 50%.
If there is only one child, the spouse and child share the pension equally.
When there are more than four children, the pension is generally allocated to the family collectively.
If there is no spouse or child, the pension may be transferred to the deceased’s parents. If parents are not alive, other relatives may be designated as guardians to manage the entitlement.

Can Divorced Women Receive an Orphan Pension?

Divorced women who are not employed may be eligible for pensions based on their deceased parents. The application process for divorced women is the same as for unmarried daughters.

Municipalities and non-governmental organizations may offer support packages for divorced women, including cash assistance or aid in the form of food and heating supplies.

Survivor and orphan pensions are not the only support option. Women who cannot support themselves can obtain a poverty report from the local mukhtar and apply for various state assistance programs, many of which are administered by Social Assistance and Solidarity Foundations present in every province. Once required documents are submitted, applications are processed and, if approved, financial support is deposited into beneficiaries’ accounts.