In the event of death, how much a pension is reduced varies depending on the amount of the deceased’s pension. The surviving spouse is generally entitled to 75% of the deceased spouse’s pension. For example, if the deceased received an average pension of 2,000 TL, the surviving spouse would receive 1,500 TL as a survivor’s pension. However, this rule does not apply in every case.
An important point to note is the employment status of the survivors. If the surviving spouse is actively employed, they may not be eligible for the survivor’s pension. The amounts paid from the survivor’s pension also vary depending on the number of eligible beneficiaries and how closely they were related to the deceased.
Who Can Benefit from the Survivor’s Pension?
Those eligible to receive a survivor’s pension are the deceased person’s spouse, parents, and orphaned children. For relatives to receive the survivor’s pension, specific conditions must be met. Eligibility and the amount paid depend on how many people claim the pension and the degree of kinship to the deceased.
How Are Survivor Pension Shares Determined?
The amount of a survivor’s pension depends on the relationship to the deceased and how many people claim a share. Only the spouse, children, mother, and father of the deceased can claim this pension.
The shares that these eligible relatives may receive are as follows:
- If only the legally married spouse claims the pension, the spouse receives 75% of the deceased’s pension. If another person besides the spouse also claims a share, the widow(er) receives 50%. If the pension is shared only between the widow(er) and one orphaned child, the spouse receives 60%.
- Orphaned children can receive a portion of the pension if they meet specific conditions. If the only beneficiary is an orphaned child, that child receives 50% of the deceased’s pension. If the spouse and a single orphaned child share the pension, the child’s share is 30%. If more than one child claims the pension, each child’s share is 25%.
- Parents over the age of 65 who do not work receive 25% of the deceased’s pension.
What Are the Eligibility Conditions for the Survivor’s Pension?
Certain conditions related to the deceased must be met for relatives to claim a survivor’s pension. When these conditions are satisfied, relatives may be eligible to receive the deceased’s pension.
The required conditions include:
- If a Bağ-Kur insured retiree died after 2008, they must have paid at least 1,800 days of premiums.
- If a Bağ-Kur insured retiree died before 2008, they must have paid at least 1,080 days of premiums.
- If the deceased was insured under SSK, they must have worked as an insured person for five years and paid at least 900 days of premiums.
- There must be no outstanding premium debt for the deceased, including general health insurance premiums, in order for beneficiaries to receive a survivor’s pension.
What Conditions Must Beneficiaries Meet?
Beneficiaries must meet specific requirements to receive the survivor’s pension. These requirements are as follows:
- The spouse must have been legally married to the deceased to receive the survivor’s pension.
- Children’s eligibility depends on factors such as gender, age, education status, marital status, and disability.
- Sons can receive the pension until age 25 if in higher education, until age 20 if in secondary education, and until age 18 if not pursuing any education.
- Daughters must be unmarried to receive the pension based on the deceased.
- Daughters must not receive a pension through their own insurance to be eligible for a survivor’s pension from the deceased.
- Children who have lost more than 60% of their working capacity are eligible for the survivor’s pension regardless of gender, age, or education status.
- For parents to receive a survivor’s pension based on their deceased child, they generally must be over 65 years old and have income below the minimum wage. If they meet these conditions, each parent can receive a 25% share of the deceased child’s pension, regardless of the remaining shares.
How Do You Apply for a Survivor’s Pension?
There are several ways to apply for a survivor’s pension. For a deceased insured under 4A (Social Insurance Institution) or 4B (Bağ-Kur), the primary method is to submit the required documents to the Provincial Social Security Directorates. Applications can also be submitted to the General Directorate of Retirement Services and the Department of Employment-Based Retirees with the necessary paperwork. Additionally, applications can be made through the national e-government portal.
What Documents Are Required to Apply?
When applying for a survivor’s pension, the authorities typically request the following documents:
- Allocation request and declaration form,
- Medical report from a full-service public hospital for children with disabilities,
- Guardianship decree when a guardian has been appointed for beneficiaries,
- Students do not need to submit proof of enrollment, as the applicant’s education status can be verified through agreements with the Ministry of National Education and the Higher Education Council.
Is the Deceased Retiree’s Pension Reclaimed?
Refund or reclamation of a deceased retiree’s pension depends on the timing of death and whether the pension was withdrawn. For example, if a retiree scheduled to receive their pension on the 27th dies on the 28th, the pension that was paid can be used. However, if the retiree was paid on the 27th and actually died on the 26th, and the pension was withdrawn from the account, the Social Security Institution may request repayment of the withdrawn amount.
Under What Circumstances Is the Survivor’s Pension Suspended?
The survivor’s pension may be suspended in several situations, including:
- The surviving spouse remarries,
- The beneficiary begins working under foreign social security legislation,
- Sons surpass the age limits specified for eligibility,
- Daughters marry,
- Parents begin receiving a pension based on their own entitlements,
- Parents’ income rises above the minimum wage threshold.
When Is the Survivor’s Pension Paid to Relatives?
When a person insured under any branch of the Social Security Institution dies while still covered, survivors may become entitled to a pension. Once the eligibility conditions for the spouse and children are met and the application is submitted, the survivor’s pension is typically paid into the relevant accounts for the following month. Delays in the death notification process—such as system-related issues after integration with national population registries—can cause interruptions or delays in the payment of the survivor’s pension.