Right holders who want to check breastfeeding allowance (süt parası / emzirme ödeneği) can easily review their status via the e-Devlet portal or by visiting a PTT branch. In most cases the allowance is paid automatically after birth, but if the birth took place at home, the hospital failed to register it, or there was a system error, an application must be submitted to receive the payment.
After applying, the process continues only if the claim is made within the statute of limitations. The time limit is five years. Families who could not receive the allowance due to a system or hospital error may renew their application within five years of the child’s birth.
Who Is Eligible for the Breastfeeding Allowance?
Those who can benefit from the breastfeeding allowance include:
- Women insured under SSK (employee insurance) can receive the breastfeeding allowance paid at birth.
- Wives of male insured employees can benefit from this payment if they are legally married. If the person has no SSK connection in any way, they are not eligible.
- People covered under 4B (self-employed categories that are treated similarly to SSK in some cases) may be eligible for the allowance.
- Those working under 45A status, which may be classified among certain 4B-like categories, can also qualify.
- Workers under 4D (public sector employees covered by SSK-type rules) can benefit because they are treated as SSK insured.
- Bağ-Kur (self-employed social security) insured persons do not automatically receive the allowance; they must apply individually to the Social Security Institution (SGK). Bağ-Kur contributors must also have settled all their premium debts to be eligible.
- Civil servants (covered by the Retirement Fund/Emekli Sandığı) are not eligible for the breastfeeding allowance.
How Can Employed Mothers Receive the Allowance?
Conditions for employed mothers to receive the breastfeeding allowance:
- The mother’s birth must have taken place.
- The baby must be born alive. Payments are not made for stillborn infants.
- The mother must have paid at least 120 days of premiums within the 12 months prior to the birth.
- If the working parent is the mother, it does not matter whether the father works under SSK; the mother’s SSK status and contributions are decisive.
- The mother’s insurance type must be among those eligible for the allowance; there should be no disqualifying difference in status.
Can Employed Fathers Receive the Allowance?
Conditions for employed fathers to receive the breastfeeding allowance:
- The working father must be insured under SSK.
- The mother must not be working; if she is working, her situation is taken into account for the benefit.
- The father must have at least 120 days of premium payments during the year before the birth.
- The birth must have occurred and the baby must be alive and healthy.
When Is an Application Required?
An application is required in situations such as:
- The birth took place at home.
- The birth occurred unexpectedly or on an unplanned date, causing delayed system registration.
- The mother does not have a bank account.
- The hospital did not enter the birth into the system.
- There is a technical failure in the hospital’s system.
- The mother or father is insured under Bağ-Kur.
- The mother or father is in an SSK-excluded status such as some 4D or other categories; in these cases a formal application is required.
Where Are Breastfeeding Allowance Applications Made?
Typically no individual application is needed: once the birth is recorded in the system, the breastfeeding allowance is automatically processed and eligibility is checked. If the mother has a bank account with the relevant bank, the payment is deposited directly into that account. However, Bağ-Kur insured applicants must apply in person at the Social Security Institution (SGK). Applications made with ID and birth documents are usually finalized within around 15 days.
What Documents Are Required for an Application?
Required documents for a breastfeeding allowance application:
- A written application petition requesting the allowance
- Birth report
- Identity document
Applications related to births affected by system errors must be submitted within five years of the child’s birth. In cases caused by system malfunction, applicants are often asked to wait one month before filing.
Where Can the Allowance Be Checked?
The breastfeeding allowance status can be checked at PTT branches or via the e-Devlet system. For PTT inquiries, the beneficiary should visit the nearest PTT counter in person.
How to Check the Allowance via e-Devlet?
To view breastfeeding allowance information on e-Devlet you need the password obtained from a PTT branch and your Turkish ID number. After logging in, search for the Social Security Institution (SGK) services. You can also access SGK e-services from the e-hizmetler section at the bottom of the page. From there, open the “SGK personal payments” menu to see details about breastfeeding allowance without filling additional forms. Note that the hospital must have registered the birth in the system for this query to display the payment.
How to Check the Allowance at PTT?
To check the breastfeeding allowance at a PTT counter, visit the branch in person with your Turkish ID. The inquiry will determine whether the allowance has been allocated. The mother should perform the inquiry whenever possible.
Where Is the Allowance Paid?
Payments are made through Ziraat Bank or PTT branches. If the mother has an account at Ziraat Bank, the allowance is deposited directly there. If she has no bank account, the payment is placed at the nearest PTT branch to the mother’s registered address under her name. The mother can track deposits via e-Devlet and collect the cash from the PTT counter with her identity document.
Can the Payment Be Directed to a Personal Bank Account?
Yes. If the mother has a Ziraat Bank account, arrangements can be made through the bank. If she prefers another bank or does not have a Ziraat account, coordinated arrangements can be made with PTT to redirect the payment to the desired bank account.
What Is the Difference Between Birth Allowance and Breastfeeding Allowance?
The main difference is that breastfeeding allowance requires the mother or father to be insured under SSK. Birth allowance is a support provided by the Ministry of Family and Social Services and does not require SSK insurance. In addition, breastfeeding allowance may require an application in certain cases, whereas birth allowance is typically granted without a separate application. Birth allowance does not require a legal marriage for eligibility, while breastfeeding allowance may involve conditions related to marital status in some cases.
When Is the Allowance Paid?
Payments are typically made between the 8th and 14th of the month. If the application is made in the month of the birth, the allowance is generally paid between the 8th and 14th of the following month.