Ways for non-working housewives to retire are among the most frequently asked questions about the social security system. As of 2025, updated laws and premium regulations provide social security and retirement opportunities for women who produce at home or do not work in any formal job. We will examine in detail the retirement processes for non-working housewives, state supports and application methods.
Although housewives devote much of their lives to family and household duties, not working in a formal job often leaves them without retirement rights. However, with special government programs, housewives who meet certain conditions can become eligible for retirement by paying premiums themselves or by using state-supported methods to receive a pension.
What Is Voluntary Insurance and Retirement?
Voluntary insurance is one of the most common options for non-working housewives on the path to retirement. The system allows individuals who register with the Social Security Institution (SGK) and pay their own contributions, without being tied to an employer, to qualify for retirement.
Who Can Apply?
- Citizens of the Republic of Turkey,
- Those who are at least 18 years old,
- Those not working under any social security institution,
- Those not receiving income or a pension from SGK,
- Those who previously had insurance but do not have enough premium days,
- Those who will be insured for the first time.
If housewives meet these conditions, they can become voluntary insured and complete the required premium days for retirement.
How to Apply?
Voluntary insurance applications can be made via the e-Government portal or in person at the nearest SGK provincial or district directorates. Required documents include:
- A copy of the identity card,
- Voluntary insurance enrollment form (obtained from SGK),
- Proof of address from the population registry.
After the application is approved, premium payments must be made monthly at the amount chosen by the individual.
What Are the Benefits?
- Right to a retirement pension depending on the contribution payment period,
- SGK retirement when required days, age and contribution conditions are met,
- Access to healthcare services (if general health coverage through a spouse has ended),
- Shortening the retirement period through additional options such as child-related contribution credit.
Bağ-Kur Retirement for Housewives
Bağ-Kur is the system that provides social security for self-employed people. Although non-working housewives may seem outside the system because they do not work for an employer, they can pay contributions under the 4B (Bağ-Kur) status through voluntary insurance and obtain the right to retire.
What Does Bağ-Kur Retirement Mean?
By paying contributions under Bağ-Kur, housewives can;
- reach age 58 for women,
- complete 15 years (5400 days) of contributions,
- and qualify for a retirement pension.
The Bağ-Kur system is suitable for housewives who want a long-term retirement plan and can pay contributions regularly.
When Is Bağ-Kur More Advantageous?
- Those who start accumulating contributions at an early age,
- Women who produce at home and earn income,
- Those who run their own small business or perform trades but are not registered as business owners,
- Women working in agriculture who remain uninsured.
These individuals can retire by paying contributions in their own name under Bağ-Kur.
Payment and Tracking of Contributions
Bağ-Kur contributions can be paid;
- via e-Government, or
- through banks contracted with SGK.
Payments must be made monthly and regularly. Those with outstanding contribution debts cannot apply for retirement.
Retirement Opportunities for Women Producing at Home (Tax-Exempt Tradeswoman Model)
Women who produce at home have recently gained opportunities to both earn income and secure retirement rights thanks to government incentives. Especially with the tax-exempt tradeswoman certificate, home sales can be recorded and women can pay contributions through the Bağ-Kur system to qualify for retirement.
What Is the Tax-Exempt Tradeswoman System?
Under the regulation effective from 2021, women producing at home were granted tax exemption. In this framework;
- Women producing handicrafts, food, accessories, soap, jewelry, clothing and similar items at home,
- who sell these products only online, through marketplaces or at fairs,
- and whose annual gross sales remain below three times the minimum wage,
- are considered tax-exempt tradeswomen.
By obtaining a tax-exempt tradeswoman certificate, individuals do not pay income tax but can retire by paying a voluntary Bağ-Kur premium.
How to Apply?
- Apply to the local tax office to obtain the “tax-exempt tradeswoman certificate.”
- With this certificate, apply to SGK to register for voluntary Bağ-Kur.
- Then begin paying contributions.
This model aims to integrate informal working women into the formal economy.
What Are the Advantages?
- Legal sales with tax exemption,
- Gaining formal insured status,
- Becoming eligible for retirement by paying voluntary contributions,
- Converting earned income into social security,
- Receiving a retirement pension when retired.
Shortening Retirement Time with Child Contribution Credit
Child contribution credit is a special right granted to mothers and is one of the most effective methods for shortening the retirement path of non-working housewives. The application allows women to convert periods when they did not work after childbirth into retroactive premium days.
What Is Maternity Contribution Credit?
Maternity contribution credit allows insured women to count up to two years per birth of non-working periods as pension contribution days. With this method:
- It can be applied for up to three children,
- and a total of six years (2160 days) of contributions can be obtained.
However, an important condition is that the first birth must have occurred after the insurance registration date. Women who gave birth before having any insurance registration cannot benefit from this right.
Can Non-Working Housewives Benefit from This Right?
If a woman was previously registered with SGK and worked as an insured person but later stopped working, she can convert the post-birth unemployed periods into contribution days by borrowing them. In other words, this right is available to housewives who previously had an insurance registration, not to those who have never had any insurance registration.