The grandparent caregiving allowance for grandmothers is paid under the Ministry of Family, Labour and Social Services. These payments are intended to support working mothers by compensating the grandmothers who care for their young children.
Women employed within the Social Security Institution may wish to continue their careers after having children. When working mothers return to the workforce, grandmothers who take on child care responsibilities can receive a monthly payment under the grandchild care allowance program.
Developed as an alternative to nursery and caregiver support programs administered by the Social Security Institution, the grandchild care allowance is available to those who meet the conditions set by the institution. Under this allowance, payments are made at a rate of up to 425 TL per month for a maximum duration of 12 months. Payments stop once the child reaches age three or when the 12-month period ends.
What Are the Eligibility Requirements for the Grandchild Care Allowance?
The conditions applicants must meet to benefit from the grandchild care allowance are listed below:
- Applicants must be citizens of the Republic of Turkey.
- Applicants and the grandchildren must reside in one of the pilot provinces selected for the program.
- The working mother and her child must live in the same household, while the grandmother must reside at a different address. If the grandmother and grandchild do not live in the same province, the allowance is not payable.
- The mother must be at least 18 years old.
- The mother must be employed and covered by the Social Security Institution.
- At the time of application, the child to be cared for must be under three years old. Children over three are eligible for nursery support and therefore are not covered by the grandchild care allowance.
- The mother must be employed in the private sector under the SSK (Social Insurance) system.
- Mothers working under private sector employment contracts must continue to work and remain insured throughout the application and payment period.
- If the mother leaves her job, payments of the grandchild care allowance will cease.
- Under Labour Law No. 4857, the mother must have fully used her maternity leave and returned to work after leave; mothers on unpaid leave are not eligible for the allowance.
- Insured working mothers must have at least one year of insurance contributions within the allowance period. If 360 days of premium payments are not met, the allowance cannot be received.
- No blood relationship up to the third degree should exist between the employer and the mother.
- If both parents are employed, their combined net income must not exceed three times the minimum wage.
- During the period the allowance is paid, no other caregiver may be employed for the same child. If another caregiver is found to be employed, payments will be terminated.
- The grandmother responsible for care must be able to meet the child’s basic needs and must not have illnesses or physical disabilities that prevent proper care.
- Grandmothers over 65 must provide a medical report.
- An application cannot be submitted without a residence registration document.
Grandmothers applying for the allowance must submit a signed declaration and identity documents to the relevant institution.
Documents Required for the Grandchild Care Allowance Application
The Ministry of Family, Labour and Social Services will specify the documents to be submitted; the list below covers the commonly required items.
Essential documents typically include:
- Photocopy of the grandmother’s identity card
- Photocopies of the mother’s and child’s identity cards
- Copy of the mother’s population registry record
- Specimen signature circular from the mother’s workplace
- Trade registry gazette excerpts for the employer
- Medical report for the grandmother
- Residence registration documents for the mother, child and grandmother
- Sample SGK (Social Security) service record for the mother
- Income document showing the net income of both parents
Which Cities Are Pilot Locations for the Grandchild Care Allowance Project?
The allowance is initially paid in selected pilot provinces. Applicants and the children they care for must reside in one of these provinces to be eligible.
The pilot provinces are:
- Tekirdağ
- Istanbul
- Ankara
- Izmir
- Bursa
- Sakarya
- Antalya
- Kayseri
- Gaziantep
- Konya
Applications from outside these provinces will not be accepted while the program is in its pilot phase. If the pilot phase succeeds, the allowance may be expanded nationwide.
How to Apply in Person for the Grandchild Care Allowance
Applicants who wish to apply in person must meet all conditions and prepare the required documents. They should submit their application to provincial directorates of social services or the local Labour and Employment Agency (İŞKUR) branch.
After documents are submitted, the grandmother will be asked to obtain a medical report. The institution will direct which hospital to use for the health check. Once the medical report is completed and the application form is filled out, the allowance application will be entered into the system.
How to Apply Online for the Grandchild Care Allowance
To apply online, visit the Ministry of Family and Social Services website and complete the application form accurately. Because applications are not always open, you will need to wait for the ministry to announce the application period.
How to Check the Status of Your Allowance Application
To check your application, use the ministry’s online application services. After selecting “Application Procedures,” verify your login details and click “Query.” The system will confirm whether you are eligible to receive the allowance. You will need the ID numbers of the grandmother, mother, father and child to log in and complete the inquiry.
Reasons the Grandchild Care Allowance May Be Terminated
The Ministry of Family, Labour and Social Services monitors conditions that may lead to termination of the allowance. Beneficiaries must inform the institution if circumstances change. Legal penalties may apply if discrepancies are found.
Common reasons for termination include:
- The death of the child receiving care will result in an immediate stop to payments.
- If the grandmother’s health deteriorates to the extent she cannot provide care, payments will be stopped.
- Grandmothers who do not properly care for the child will lose the right to the allowance.
- Payments end once the child turns three years old.
If the mother leaves her job, payments are also terminated.
How Much Is the Grandchild Care Allowance?
Under the project launched by the Ministry of Family, Labour and Social Services, financial support is provided to grandparents who care for young children of working families. Eligible grandmothers and grandfathers can receive a monthly allowance.
The current payment amount for the grandchild care allowance is 425 TL per month. The ministry determines the amount and the number of beneficiaries each year. Qualified grandparents can both care for their grandchildren and receive a monthly payment. Allowance rates and eligibility criteria may be adjusted annually.