How Much Was Torun Care Allowance in 2021 and How to Claim It

In 2021 the grandparent care allowance is 425 TL. Grandparent care allowance applications can be submitted through the Ministry of Labor and Social Security website or at provincial social security directorates. There has been no definitive announcement about whether the grandparent care payment program will continue in 2021.

This allowance is paid to grandmothers who care for the children of working mothers up to the age of three. It is granted monthly for one year. The scheme was implemented in pilot provinces where employment rates are high.

What Is the Purpose of the Grandparent Care Allowance?

The primary goal of the grandparent care allowance is to support working mothers who do not want to leave their child with a paid caregiver. After reports of issues with some childcare providers, many working mothers prefer to entrust their children to a trusted family member, most commonly a grandmother.

The program aims to help women remain active in the workforce after having children, retain their economic independence and benefit from childcare provided by a familiar, trusted person. It also seeks to support traditional family bonds by encouraging children to spend time with their grandmothers while giving working mothers peace of mind. Grandmothers who provide this care receive a monthly allowance for their service.

What Are the Eligibility Requirements?

Eligibility conditions for the grandparent care allowance are summarized below:

Applicants must be Turkish citizens.
The family must reside in one of the pilot provinces where the program is active.
The child for whom the allowance will be paid must be under three years old at the time of application.
The child’s mother must be at least 18 years old.
The grandmother who will provide care must be under 65 years old.
The child’s mother and the grandmother must live in the same city.
The mother must live in the same household as the child, and the grandmother must reside in the same pilot province.
The child’s parents must be legally married at the time of the child’s birth.
The child’s mother must be employed and covered by social security: she must work under an employment contract and be insured. If she leaves her job, the grandmother is no longer eligible to receive the allowance.
The mother’s employer must not be a relative up to the third degree, including in-laws.
The working mother must have at least one year of registered insured work prior to the birth.
The grandmother must be physically and mentally able to care for the child and present no health condition that prevents caregiving.
No other paid caregiver may be employed to care for the child while the allowance is provided.
The mother must have completed her statutory maternity leave under Article 74/1 of Labor Law No. 4857 at the time of application. Payments cannot be made while the mother is still on maternity leave.
Household income per person must not exceed the upper limit set by the Ministry of Labor and Social Security and the Ministry of Family and Social Policies. The combined income of the parents should be less than three times the current minimum wage, and the mother’s individual income should be less than twice the minimum wage. Eligible families may also receive healthcare support.

What Documents Are Required for Application?

The following documents are typically requested for a grandparent care allowance application:

Identification document of the child who will be covered by the allowance.
The child’s birth certificate.
The working mother’s social security service statement (SGK service record).
Documentation showing that the child’s parents work separately.
Confirmation that the mother has no commercial registry records that would affect eligibility.
Identification document of the grandmother who will receive the allowance.
A health report proving the grandmother is fit to care for the child.

Which Provinces Were Included in the Pilot Program?

The pilot provinces selected for the grandparent care allowance were:

Ankara
Antalya
Bursa
Gaziantep
Istanbul
Izmir
Kayseri
Konya
Sakarya
Tekirdağ

In the first year, the program selected a total of 6,500 grandmothers across these ten pilot provinces. Istanbul, Izmir and Bursa each contributed around 1,000 beneficiaries, while the remaining provinces contributed roughly 500 each. As applications increased in later years, the program expanded and accepted approximately 19,100 applicants overall.

Will the Program Continue?

The grandparent care allowance was first introduced in 2017 and has been implemented as a pilot limited to certain provinces. Evaluations showed positive effects, and there were discussions about expanding the program. However, extending the program to all 81 provinces would substantially increase costs, and no official decision has been announced regarding continuation or expansion.

There have been suggestions to seek private sponsorship to reduce public costs, but the Ministry of Family, Labor and Social Services has not made a final announcement about the program’s future. As of 2021, active applications for the allowance are not being accepted.

How Can One Apply?

Application methods include:

Applying in person at the provincial Social Security Institution (SGK) directorates in the applicant’s place of residence.
Submitting an application through provincial directorates of the Turkish Employment Agency (İŞKUR) or via the Ministry of Labor and Social Security’s official channels when online forms are active.
Applying through the Social Assistance and Solidarity Foundations in the relevant province.

How to Apply Online?

An online application requires waiting for announced application periods. When active, application windows and forms are published on the ministry websites. Applicants must complete the online form accurately, save and submit it. Once submitted, eligibility checks are performed and, if the grandmother qualifies, payments begin the following month.

How to Apply in Person?

To apply in person, gather the required documents and visit the relevant application center. Staff at the center provide and help complete the application form and guide applicants through the process.

What Information Is Required on the Application Form?

The application form typically asks for:

Whether the caregiver is the maternal or paternal grandmother.
Identity numbers (T.C. ID) of the child’s mother and father.
The child’s T.C. identity number.
The grandmother’s T.C. identity number.
Contact information for the child’s mother, including mobile phone, work phone and email.
Whether the birth was vaginal or cesarean.
Whether the mother’s workplace provides daycare or a nursery; if available, an explanation of why the grandparent care allowance is still requested.
Union membership information for the working mother, if applicable.
The total monthly cost spent on the child.
The total number of children in the family.

Are Home Visits Conducted?

Home visits for applicants are carried out under decisions by the Ministry of Family and Social Policies. Homes of children nominated to receive the allowance are inspected to verify that the application details are accurate. Data collected during visits is also analyzed for reporting and program evaluation.

How Can Applicants Check the Status of Their Application?

Applicants can inquire about their application status by contacting the center where they applied. Application centers provide information on the progress of applications and the expected payment schedule.

How Is the Program Funded?

The program’s funding is provided half by the Unemployment Insurance Fund and half by contributions from stakeholders representing employees and employers.

How Much Is the Payment?

The grandparent care allowance amount is 425 TL per month. This amount was calculated as 30% of the net monthly minimum wage at the time the program began. The payment is the same regardless of the number of children cared for. Payments for accepted applications submitted around the new year are typically made in March or April.

For How Long Is the Allowance Paid?

The allowance is paid for 12 months, beginning from the child’s birth. Families wishing to receive the allowance for a second child must wait until the one-year period for the first child has ended before applying for the second.

Who Receives the Allowance?

The allowance is paid to the grandmother who cares for the child. It is not a payment made to the child’s mother.

Where Are Payments Collected?

Payments are disbursed through the nearest PTT (postal bank) branch in the applicant’s area. The amount is deposited to the grandmother’s name and can be collected with a valid ID.

When Is the Allowance Suspended?

Situations that lead to suspension of the grandparent care allowance include:

The death of the grandmother caring for the child.
If the grandmother develops a health condition during the payment period that prevents her from caring for the child.
If the child’s mother leaves her job; even if she later returns to work, payments are stopped when the mother’s employment ends.
Payments are suspended and legal and administrative actions may follow if false information or misleading statements are discovered in the application.