2024 Ek-6 insurance premium is a type of social security contribution required for drivers working in commercial taxis, minibuses and similar public transport vehicles, and for artists working part-time in fields specified by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism. The Ek-6 contribution is designed to protect these workers’ retirement, health and unemployment rights. Here you can find answers to common questions such as how much the Ek-6 insurance premium is and what the requirements are.
WHAT IS EK-6 INSURANCE?
Ek-6 insurance is regulated under the additional article 6 of Law No. 5510. It covers part-time workers whose calculated working days in a month amount to fewer than 10 days based on their hours worked. To complete the 30 days required for social security purposes, these workers pay the Ek-6 insurance premium from their own pocket. This fills the gap in their contribution record and ensures access to insurance benefits.
HOW TO APPLY FOR EK-6 INSURANCE?
To apply for Ek-6 insurance, first confirm that you meet the eligibility conditions. These are:
- Working as a driver in a commercial taxi, minibus or similar public transport vehicle, or working part-time as an artist in areas designated by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism.
- Having fewer than 10 calculated working days in the month based on hours worked.
- Having a part-time employment contract.
If you meet these conditions, complete the Ek-6 application form and submit it to the Social Security Center (SGK) where you are registered. The application form is available on SGK’s official website.
The application must be approved by the professional chamber or cooperative associated with your workplace, and your part-time employment contract should be attached. You can deliver the form in person or send it by mail to the Social Security Center.
NOTE: If you send the application by mail, use registered or return-receipt mail so the sending date is documented and you avoid possible issues.
How Much Is the 2024 Ek-6 Insurance Premium?
The Ek-6 insurance premium is calculated based on the insured person’s declared daily earnings multiplied by 30. The declared daily earnings must fall between the minimum and maximum daily earnings base for contributions. The minimum daily earnings base is the gross daily equivalent of the minimum wage, and the maximum is 7.5 times the minimum wage. These limits are updated annually.
For 2024, the minimum daily earnings base is set at 216.69 TL and the maximum daily earnings base at 1,625.06 TL.
Premium rates for Ek-6 contributors vary depending on whether they opt into unemployment insurance.
Those who do not opt into unemployment insurance pay a total premium rate of 32.5%: 20% for disability, old-age and death insurance and 12.5% for general health insurance. Those who opt into unemployment insurance pay a total of 35.5%: 20% for disability, old-age and death insurance, 12.5% for general health insurance and 3% for unemployment insurance. Note that occupational accident and disease insurance provisions do not apply to Ek-6 contributors.
Accordingly, for 2024 an Ek-6 contributor who declares earnings at the minimum base would pay approximately the following monthly premiums:
- For those not covered by unemployment insurance: 6,500.81 TL x 32.5% = 2,112.76 TL (monthly premium amount based on a 30-day basis as calculated by the base). The total contribution shown previously in some calculations may be presented as a monthly figure reflecting the 30-day declaration.
- For those covered by unemployment insurance: 6,500.81 TL x 35.5% = 2,307.79 TL (monthly premium amount based on a 30-day basis as calculated by the base).
(Note: Exact totals can vary depending on how sources present the 30-day calculation or rounding. Always confirm the final payable amount with SGK or your accounting professional.)
WHAT ARE THE RETIREMENT REQUIREMENTS FOR EK-6 INSUREDS?
Retirement conditions for Ek-6 insured persons are determined under Law No. 5510. Ek-6 contributors are evaluated within the 4A (SSK) coverage. Therefore they must meet the required age, premium days and insured period to qualify for retirement. These requirements vary by date of birth and gender. For those first insured after 2008:
- Retirement age: 58 for women and 60 for men.
- Required premium days: 7,200 days.
- Required insured period: 15 years.
- When applying for retirement, Ek-6 insured persons must have paid at least 60 days of contributions within the last 126 days and must have left the workplace where they were employed.
ARE EK-6 INSURANCE DEBTS WRITTEN OFF?
Unpaid Ek-6 contribution debts can become time-barred. The statute of limitations period for these debts is five years from the date the debt arose. If SGK does not notify the debtor within that period and the debtor does not make an application to SGK, the debt may be time-barred and removed. However, if SGK serves a notification to the debtor or the debtor makes an application to SGK, the limitation period stops and restarts.
The write-off of debts does not affect the insured period. Months for which debts are written off are still counted as insurance periods, but because contributions were not actually paid for those months, they are not counted in retirement premium calculations.
CAN EK-6 INSUREDS RECEIVE SEVERANCE PAY?
Whether Ek-6 insured workers are eligible for severance pay depends on whether their workplace falls under the scope of the Labor Law. Workplaces covered by the Labor Law typically employ more than three people, including the vehicle owner. Ek-6 insured workers in such workplaces may be entitled to severance pay if they leave their job for reasons beyond their own fault.
Severance pay is calculated as 30 days’ gross wage for each full year worked. Workplaces that are not covered by the Labor Law are those where three or fewer people work including the vehicle owner; Ek-6 insured workers at such workplaces generally are not eligible for severance under the Labor Law. They may, however, be able to pursue other types of compensation under the Code of Obligations.
We have provided information about how much the Ek-6 insurance premium is, retirement conditions, severance pay eligibility and related details. If you have further questions, you can leave them in the comments section for clarification.