Maternity birth allowance for Bağkur contributors is possible. It is also paid under the name maternity incapacity benefit. Payments are deposited to accounts registered with SGK. If there is no account registered with SGK, the allowance can be collected from PTT branches with an identity document. The upper limit for the birth allowance is set at 6.5 times the current minimum wage. For 2020 this corresponds to a maximum daily amount of 637.65 TRY. When calculating the benefit, two thirds of this amount is used.
What conditions must a Bağkur-affiliated mother meet to receive the birth allowance?
The conditions required for Bağkur-registered mothers to have their birth allowance applications approved are as follows:
- There must be no outstanding Bağkur premium debt.
- Insurance premiums must have been paid without interruption for the 120 days prior to the birth.
- Besides having no outstanding retroactive premium debt, an application to SGK may be required.
- The mother must obtain a medical report by the 32nd week of pregnancy to receive maternity benefit; this report functions as the basis for the maternity allowance.
- For singleton pregnancies, maternity leave is calculated as 8 weeks before and 8 weeks after birth, a total of 16 weeks. For multiple pregnancies the total period is 18 weeks.
- At the time the allowance begins, the expectant mother must not be employed in any other job.
- At least 90 days of paid insurance premiums in the year before the birth are required.
- The birth allowance is paid regardless of whether the birth is live or stillborn.
Which female Bağkur-insured women are eligible for maternity birth allowance?
The Bağkur-insured women eligible for the birth allowance include:
- Those insured under Bağkur due to serving as a village headman (muhtar) are entitled to the allowance.
- Bağkur contributors who are taxpayers under real or simplified tax regimes because of commercial or freelance income are eligible for maternity birth allowance.
- Bağkur-insured artisans and tradespeople registered in the relevant registry and exempt from income tax are entitled to maternity allowance payments.
- Agricultural Bağkur contributors engaged in farming activities have the right to receive the birth allowance.
Female Bağkur contributors who are partners in a company are not eligible for maternity birth allowance.
How is the maternity birth allowance calculated for Bağkur contributors?
To calculate the allowance for Bağkur contributors, first determine the total declared premiums for the last three months of the 12-month period preceding the birth. Then divide this total by the number of premium days reported in those last three months. The resulting daily premium amount is the basis; two thirds of that daily amount is paid. Since the maternity leave is paid over 112 days, multiply two thirds of the daily amount by 112.
Example calculation of maternity birth allowance for a Bağkur contributor
Consider a Bağkur contributor whose gross monthly income in 2020 is 5,000 TRY. The calculation proceeds as follows:
- Find the total gross income for three months: 15,000 TRY.
- Assume the number of premium days paid over the three months equals 90 days.
- Calculate the daily gross amount by dividing 15,000 by 90, giving a daily gross of 166.67 TRY.
- Because maternity leave is 112 days, multiply 166.67 TRY by 112 to obtain 18,667 TRY.
- Take two thirds of that amount: the result is 12,444 TRY. Thus, the maternity birth allowance for this Bağkur contributor for the 16-week period is 12,444 TRY.
Are Bağkur mothers paid the birth allowance in 2020?
Yes. Bağkur-registered women are eligible to receive the birth allowance.
How much is the Bağkur birth allowance determined at?
The amount of the birth allowance varies according to the Bağkur contributor’s declared monthly income.
How is the Bağkur birth allowance calculated?
The allowance is calculated over 112 days based on the contributor’s declared income and paid premiums.
How can Bağkur birth allowance be checked?
You can check the birth allowance status through the e-Government (e-Devlet) system.
How is the Bağkur birth allowance application made?
To receive the maternity birth allowance, the employer must enter the birth documents into SGK’s system. After the records are processed by SGK, the allowance can be issued following eligibility verification.