The conditions for BAĞ-KUR (self-employed) retirement for men and women vary depending on the date they started paying into the system. BAĞ-KUR insured persons pay their own contributions to the Social Security Institution and, as a result, benefit from state-provided health and retirement services. These are independent professionals who work on their own behalf without being employed by a company or public institution.
Those registered under the BAĞ-KUR status, now referred to as 4/B, include village and neighborhood muhtars (local elected heads). Under BAĞ-KUR law, muhtars who work independently on their own account are included in the self-employed category.
What Is BAĞ-KUR? Who Needs BAĞ-KUR?
BAĞ-KUR is an insurance service offered to business owners to secure their future; premiums paid to the state accumulate into a contribution record.
For insured persons, BAĞ-KUR provides:
- Health coverage
- Support for old-age expenses
- Protection for the family left behind in case of death
Established in 1972, BAĞ-KUR joined the Social Security Institution in 2006 when it merged with SSK. BAĞ-KUR is a mandatory insurance type for farmers, partners of companies, and Turkish citizens over 18 who own a company, where premiums are paid by the insured themselves rather than an employer.
What Are the Retirement Conditions Under BAĞ-KUR?
Under the Social Security Institution, retirement rules differ between categories:
- 4A (SSK)
- 4B (BAĞ-KUR)
- 4C (Civil Servant Pension Fund)
Self-employed persons who do not work for an employer or public institution become eligible for a pension when they meet BAĞ-KUR retirement conditions. BAĞ-KUR retirement dates are calculated in three groups based on the date of starting work:
- Those who started before 1 October 1999
- Those who started between 1 October 1999 and 30 April 2008
- Those who started on or after 1 May 2008
Retirement calculations for women under 4B (BAĞ-KUR) differ from those for men.
BAĞ-KUR Retirement Calculation Table
There are three critical dates used to determine BAĞ-KUR retirement conditions. These dates define the differences in retirement requirements.
Based on the insured’s start date, the requirements are:
| Date of first contribution | Requirement | Age requirement |
| Before 08.09.1999 | 9,000 days (25 years) | None |
| 08.09.1999 – 30.04.2008 | 9,000 days (25 years) | 60 |
| On or after 01.05.2008 | 9,000 days (25 years) | 60 |
These criteria differ further between men and women; the same start date can result in different retirement conditions by gender.
Table for Men Who Began Work Before 1999 (4/B)
According to the BAĞ-KUR retirement calculation:
- Men insured before 1 October 1999 who already had more than 23 years of contribution as of that date can retire once they complete 25 years and 9,000 contribution days, without any age requirement.
- Those who do not meet that condition must satisfy both the 25-year/9,000-day requirement and the applicable age requirement. As of 01.06.2002, the retirement ages based on how much time remained to complete 25 years are:
- If 2 years or less remained: retirement age 44
- If more than 2 years but less than 3 years 6 months remained: retirement age 45
- If more than 3 years 6 months but less than 5 years remained: retirement age 46
- If more than 5 years but less than 6 years 6 months remained: retirement age 46
- If more than 6 years 6 months but less than 8 years remained: retirement age 47
- If more than 8 years but less than 9 years 6 months remained: retirement age 48
- If more than 9 years 6 months but less than 11 years remained: retirement age 49
- If more than 11 years but less than 12 years 6 months remained: retirement age 50
- If more than 12 years 6 months but less than 14 years remained: retirement age 51
- If more than 14 years but less than 15 years 6 months remained: retirement age 52
- If more than 15 years 6 months but less than 17 years remained: retirement age 53
Table for Women Who Began Work Before 1999 (4/B)
According to the BAĞ-KUR retirement calculation:
- Women insured before 1 October 1999 who already had more than 18 years of contributions as of that date can retire without an age requirement once they complete 20 years and 7,200 contribution days.
- Women who cannot meet that condition must complete 20 years and also meet the applicable age requirement. The retirement ages based on the remaining time to complete 20 years are:
- If 2 years or less remained: retirement age 40
- If more than 2 years but less than 3 years remained: retirement age 41
- If more than 3 years but less than 4 years remained: retirement age 42
- If more than 4 years but less than 5 years remained: retirement age 43
- If more than 5 years but less than 6 years remained: retirement age 44
- If more than 6 years but less than 7 years remained: retirement age 45
- If more than 7 years but less than 8 years remained: retirement age 46
- If more than 8 years but less than 9 years remained: retirement age 47
- If more than 9 years but less than 10 years remained: retirement age 48
- If more than 10 years but less than 11 years remained: retirement age 49
- If more than 11 years but less than 12 years remained: retirement age 50
- If more than 12 years but less than 13 years remained: retirement age 51
- If more than 13 years but less than 14 years remained: retirement age 52
- If more than 14 years but less than 15 years remained: retirement age 53
- If more than 15 years but less than 16 years remained: retirement age 54
- If more than 16 years but less than 17 years remained: retirement age 55
- If more than 17 years remained: retirement age 58
Retirement by Age Limit for Men Under BAĞ-KUR
Men seeking a partial pension under the age-limit retirement rules must meet the table conditions:
- Men whose retirement is two years or less away as of 1 October 1999 and who have completed 15 years and 5,400 days of contributions can retire at age 55.
- Men who, as of 1 October 1999, had more than two years remaining to reach 15 full years and 55, are subject to phased retirement rules.
BAĞ-KUR Women’s Retirement Age Calculation Table
Women who were insured before 1 October 1999 and had over 18 years of contributions are eligible to retire without an age condition once they reach 20 years and 7,200 contribution days. Women who cannot meet these conditions must complete 20 years and also satisfy the relevant age requirement.
For those who have not completed 20 years, retirement ages based on remaining years are:
- If fewer than 2 years remain: retirement age 40
- If fewer than 3 years remain: retirement age 41
- If fewer than 4 years remain: retirement age 42
- If fewer than 6 years remain: retirement age 44
- If fewer than 10 years remain: retirement age 48
- If fewer than 15 years remain: retirement age 54
- If more than 17 years remain: retirement age 58
How Is Age-Limit Retirement Calculated Under BAĞ-KUR?
Specific rules for women eligible for age-limit retirement are as follows:
- Women insured before 1 October 1999 who have less than two years until retirement must reach 15 years and 5,400 contribution days and be at least 50 years old to retire.
- Those who began between 1 October 1999 and 30 April 2008 must be 60 years old and have 15 years of contributions to retire.
Who Can Retire by Age Limit?
Women business owners or self-employed women with an insurance start date of 1 October 1999 may retire by age limit depending on how much time remains to complete their insured period. For example:
- If more than 2 but less than 4 years remain to complete 15 years: retirement age 51
- If more than 4 but less than 6 years remain: retirement age 52
- If more than 6 but less than 8 years remain: retirement age 53
- If more than 8 but less than 10 years remain: retirement age 54
- If more than 10 years remain: retirement age 56 (with 5,400 contribution days required)
BAĞ-KUR Retirement Table for Men with 5,400 Contribution Days
Men who have completed 15 years of insured service may be eligible for partial retirement with 5,400 contribution days. These men do not need to wait to reach 9,000 contribution days to obtain a partial pension.
Conditions for retirement from BAĞ-KUR with 5,400 days are:
- If, as of October 1999, the man had two years or less remaining to complete 15 years: retirement age 55
- If more than 2 but less than 6 years remained: retirement age 56
- If more than 6 but less than 10 years remained: retirement age 57
- If more than 10 years remained: retirement age 58
Is There a Difference Between SSK and BAĞ-KUR Regarding Retirement Rights?
Which institution an employee retires from matters. Although SSK and BAĞ-KUR are now both under SGK, the criteria for retirement differ between them.
- Until 2000, those who switched from BAĞ-KUR to SSK and retired under SSK often received pensions 10–15% higher, depending on contribution amounts.
- SSK generally offers more early retirement options.
- Women can qualify for retirement with 7,200 days under BAĞ-KUR, while under SSK the requirement ranges between 5,000 and 7,200 days depending on circumstances.
Female company owners or partners who are taxpayers must be insured under BAĞ-KUR.
Can You Retire with Missing Contribution Days Under BAĞ-KUR?
Through contribution debt repayment (borçlanma), insured persons can make up missing days. Women may purchase up to two years of contribution credit per child born after their insurance start date, for up to three children, allowing up to 2,160 days of credit. There is also provision for repaying contributions for periods such as internships when the person was insured.
What Services Does the Social Security Institution (SGK) Provide?
SGK provides a range of services for employees, employers, and retirees. The institution aims to meet changing social security needs, secure risks, and offer sustainable services with a quality and innovative approach. Voluntary insurance options also provide protection for those who are not currently working.
How to Query Pension Amount and Bonuses
Pension amounts and bonus inquiries can be made through the official SGK online services.
- Turkish ID number
- SGK registry number
- Personal identity information
Queries about “when will I retire” are frequently performed by those who wish to work while receiving a pension. Retirement calculations differ for men and women and take the relevant criteria into account.
BAĞ-KUR Retirement Inquiries
4B service statements and BAĞ-KUR inquiries can be completed online through the e-Government system using a password and Turkish ID number. Through the e-Government portal, insured persons can access service records, retirement date calculations, and pension estimates based on their BAĞ-KUR history.