Conditions for early retirement under Bağ-Kur include purchasing military service credit, purchasing maternity (childbirth) credit, having an official disability health board report, or having a disabled child. Men who buy military service credit and women who buy maternity credit can benefit from early retirement by paying the related individual contributions.
In addition, women with disabled children who obtain the child’s disability health board report and apply to the competent authority can meet the Bağ-Kur early retirement requirements. A Bağ-Kur insured person, male or female, with at least 40% disability may also be eligible for early retirement depending on fulfillment of the specific conditions.
Ways to Benefit from Bağ-Kur Early Retirement
Primary methods to benefit from Bağ-Kur early retirement:
- Maternity (birth) credit,
- Military service credit.
With these two procedures, the required conditions for early retirement are met by paying the calculated contribution for the credited days. Those who purchase these credits can retire earlier by paying the individual premium debt corresponding to the credited days.
Early Retirement Through Maternity (Birth) Credit
Maternity credit allows women insured under Bağ-Kur to benefit from early retirement. Under the Social Security Reform, women can use up to a total of 2,160 days of maternity credit to shorten the retirement date. The premiums for the credited days are paid by the woman, enabling earlier retirement.
Up to two years (maximum) can be credited through maternity credit. Applicants who choose this option must apply within the designated one-month period for the chosen birth period; premiums are then calculated based on 30-day portions.
How Is Maternity Credit Calculated?
Details on calculating maternity credit:
- Credit is calculated based on the child’s date of birth.
- Up to two years may be credited for maternity periods.
- Women who gave birth in 2004 can include the period up to 01.01.2006 in their maternity credit.
- For calculating a 720-day maternity credit, an example single-day premium rate is applied to compute the total payment.
- The total premium for 720 days is calculated by multiplying the daily premium rate by 720 days.
- If the credit is made for 1,440 or 2,160 days, the daily premium rate is applied similarly to compute the total amount for those periods.
By paying these calculated amounts, the insured person benefits from Bağ-Kur early retirement.
How to Apply for Maternity Credit
Steps to apply for maternity credit are as follows:
- The woman visits the Provincial Social Security Directorate in the province of her last workplace.
- The only document required at application is a photocopy of the Turkish ID card.
- The document is handed to the staff and the request for maternity credit is expressed.
- The applicant completes and signs the maternity credit application form with identity, contact and other requested details.
- The completed form is submitted to finalize the application.
The form must clearly state how many days are being credited. After paying the premium calculated for the credited days, the applicant becomes eligible for early retirement.
Where Is the Maternity Credit Paid?
Maternity credit payments are made at PTT branches. Women who purchase maternity credit pay the premium for the credited days at the cashier of the nearest PTT branch.
To pay, inform the cashier that you will deposit the maternity credit premium, provide your Turkish ID number, and pay the amount in cash or by the accepted payment methods.
What Is Military Service Credit?
Military service credit allows men who served in the armed forces to pay individual premiums for all or part of their service period in order to benefit from early retirement. By paying the insurance premium debt for the period spent away from work, male workers can retire earlier.
How Much Are Military Service Credit Premiums?
Typical amounts for military service credit premiums include:
- A person who served 18 months and credits all 540 days will have the premium debt calculated for those days.
- The daily premium base for military credit is set as a minimum amount; the total owed is the daily rate multiplied by the credited days.
- If only 30 days are credited, the premium is calculated by applying the daily rate to 30 days.
- For 360 days credited, the total premium equals the daily rate times 360 days.
How to Apply for Military Service Credit
Application steps for military service credit:
- The applicant goes to the Provincial Social Security Directorate in the province where the military recruitment office is located with their Turkish ID card.
- They request the military service credit document from the staff.
- The staff issues the document, which the applicant completes with identity, contact and work life details.
- The completed document is taken to the responsible military recruitment office for certification.
- After having it certified, the applicant writes the number of days to be credited on the document and submits it back to the Social Security Directorate.
Once processed, the military credit is recorded. By paying the premium corresponding to the credited days, the applicant can retire earlier.
Where Is Military Service Credit Paid?
Military service credit payments are usually made at the designated bank branches indicated by the Social Security Institution. Applicants should go to the specified bank branch with their Turkish ID card and pay the premium debt from the cashier.
Retirement Table for Women Who Started Work Before 1 October 1999
| Remaining Time to Complete 20 Years | Contribution Years | Retirement Age |
| 2 years or less remaining | 20 | 40 |
| More than 2 – less than 3 years remaining | 20 | 41 |
| More than 3 – less than 4 years remaining | 20 | 42 |
| More than 4 – less than 5 years remaining | 20 | 43 |
| More than 5 – less than 6 years remaining | 20 | 44 |
| More than 6 – less than 7 years remaining | 20 | 45 |
| More than 7 – less than 8 years remaining | 20 | 46 |
| More than 8 – less than 9 years remaining | 20 | 47 |
| More than 9 – less than 10 years remaining | 20 | 48 |
| More than 10 – less than 11 years remaining | 20 | 49 |
| More than 11 – less than 12 years remaining | 20 | 50 |
| More than 12 – less than 13 years remaining | 20 | 51 |
| More than 13 – less than 14 years remaining | 20 | 52 |
| More than 14 – less than 15 years remaining | 20 | 53 |
| More than 15 – less than 16 years remaining | 20 | 54 |
| More than 16 – less than 17 years remaining | 20 | 55 |
| More than 17 years remaining | 20 | 58 |
Retirement Table for Men Who Started Work Before 1 October 1999
| Remaining Time to Complete 25 Years | Contribution Years | Retirement Age |
| 2 years or less remaining | 25 | 44 |
| More than 2 – less than 3 years 6 months remaining | 25 | 45 |
| More than 3 years 6 months – 5 years remaining | 25 | 46 |
| More than 5 – less than 6 years 6 months remaining | 25 | 47 |
| More than 6 years 6 months – 8 years remaining | 25 | 48 |
| More than 8 – less than 9 years 6 months remaining | 25 | 49 |
| More than 9 years 6 months – less than 11 years remaining | 25 | 50 |
| More than 11 – less than 12 years 6 months remaining | 25 | 51 |
| More than 12 years 6 months – less than 14 years remaining | 25 | 52 |
| More than 14 – less than 15 years 6 months remaining | 25 | 53 |
| More than 15 years 6 months – less than 17 years remaining | 25 | 54 |
| More than 17 – less than 18 years 6 months remaining | 25 | 55 |
| More than 18 years 6 months – less than 20 years remaining | 25 | 56 |
| More than 20 – less than 21 years 6 months remaining | 25 | 57 |
| More than 21 years 6 months – up to 22 years remaining | 25 | 58 |
| More than 22 years remaining | 25 | 60 |
Retirement Ages for Those Who Started After 1 May 2008
| Date Range | Required Contribution Days | Male Retirement Age | Female Retirement Age |
| 01.05.2008 – 31.12.2035 | 9,000 | 60 | 58 |
| 01.01.2036 – 31.12.2037 | 9,000 | 61 | 59 |
| 01.01.2038 – 31.12.2039 | 9,000 | 62 | 60 |
| 01.01.2040 – 31.12.2041 | 9,000 | 63 | 61 |
| 01.01.2042 – 31.12.2043 | 9,000 | 64 | 62 |
| 01.01.2044 – 31.12.2045 | 9,000 | 65 | 63 |
| 01.01.2046 – 31.12.2047 | 9,000 | 65 | 64 |
| 01.01.2048 and after | 9,000 | 65 | 65 |
Early Retirement for Women with Disabled Children
Early retirement for women with disabled children is a specific opportunity for women insured under Bağ-Kur. If a woman has a dependent disabled child, she may apply for early retirement by submitting the required documentation to the relevant authority.
Conditions for Women with Disabled Children to Qualify
Conditions for a mother with a disabled child to retire early:
- The mother must be actively working at the time of application.
- The mother must have paid voluntary contributions after 1 October 2008 or have contribution payments recorded while working under social security.
- The disabled child must have an official disability health board report.
Mothers who meet these conditions can submit an early retirement application.
How to Obtain the Health Board Report for Early Retirement Application
Steps to obtain a disability health board report:
- The mother should take the child to a hospital authorized to issue disability health board reports.
- From the countrywide list of authorized hospitals, select a convenient facility and make an appointment.
- Attend the appointment and ensure the child undergoes the required examinations.
- The hospital issues the disability health board report to the mother.
If the report indicates at least 40% disability, the mother should submit the report to the relevant institution to apply for early retirement.
Application Process for Employees with Disabled Children
Steps for applying for early retirement as a working parent of a disabled child:
- Bring your Turkish ID and the child’s disability health board report to the Provincial Social Security Directorate in the province of your last workplace.
- Inform the staff that you are applying for early retirement based on the child’s disability report.
- Complete and sign the application form with identity, contact and employment details.
- Submit the completed form to finalize the application.
Mothers who complete these steps can benefit from early retirement.
How Much Earlier Can a Bağ-Kur Employee with a Disabled Child Retire?
Early retirement advantage for Bağ-Kur employees with disabled children typically shortens the retirement date by a specified number of days. For example, a woman with 6,500 days of contributions who has also worked at least 1,600 days may receive an additional 400 credited days toward pension calculations, resulting in retirement 400 days earlier than the standard date.
How Disabled Employees Benefit from Bağ-Kur Early Retirement
To benefit from Bağ-Kur early retirement as a disabled employee, first obtain a disability health board report and then submit that report to the Provincial Social Security Directorate.
The employee should schedule an appointment at an authorized hospital, attend the examination, and if the resulting report indicates at least 40% disability, submit the report to the Social Security Directorate of the province where the workplace is located. After completing the application form and submitting it, the employee becomes eligible for early retirement.
How Long Sooner Can Bağ-Kur Disabled Employees Retire?
Examples of early retirement periods for disabled Bağ-Kur insured persons vary by entry date and contribution history:
- Those who started work in 2008 and paid 15 years of contributions may retire several thousand days earlier depending on precise dates and contribution records.
- Employees who started between certain date ranges and completed specified contribution years may have different day reductions applied to their normal retirement date.
- The exact number of days and eligibility depend on the start date, total contribution days and the applicable rules at the time of application.
Bağ-Kur Early Retirement Opportunity for Prematurely Aged Individuals
Bağ-Kur early retirement is also available for workers diagnosed with premature aging or significant loss of working capacity. Those who obtain a health board report from a fully equipped public hospital indicating the condition may qualify for early retirement.
By submitting the report to the Provincial Social Security Directorate of their workplace and declaring the early retirement request, eligible individuals can retire at age 55 if they have paid at least the required contribution days—often 5,400 days depending on the specific rule in effect.
Individuals whose working capacity is reduced due to health reasons and who meet the contribution and reporting requirements can apply to the Social Security Institution and, if approved, retire early under Bağ-Kur provisions.
Checking Your Bağ-Kur Early Retirement Application
You can track your Bağ-Kur early retirement application through the Social Security Institution’s document tracking system. Log in to the e-government or SGK document tracking service with your Turkish ID number and credentials to view the current status of your application.
After signing in, navigate to the document tracking page to see the result and progress of your early retirement submission.
What Are the Conditions for Partial (Age-Based) Retirement Applications?
Age-based retirement for Bağ-Kur insured persons requires meeting minimum contribution and insurance duration thresholds. Factors such as gender, total contribution days and payment amounts determine eligibility for age-based early retirement.
Generally, applicants must have at least 15 years of insured service and 3,600 days of contributions to be eligible for age-based retirement.
Example age thresholds for those who meet the requirements:
- Those who completed contributions between May 2002 and 23 May 2005 may retire at age 56.
- Those who completed contributions between May 2005 and 23 May 2008 may retire at age 57.
- Those who completed contributions between May 2008 and 23 May 2011 may retire at age 58.
- Those who completed contributions between May 2011 and 23 May 2013 may retire at age 59.
- Those who completed contributions on or after May 2014 may retire at age 60.