Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (İBB) offers a range of social assistance programs for citizens in need. Food and basic supplies, cash support, and education scholarships are among the services designed to ease the financial burden on low-income families.
İBB social assistance applications for 2025 are intended for citizens who meet specific criteria and can be submitted online or in person. In this article you will find detailed information about the application process, eligibility conditions, and the types of support available.
İBB Food and Basic Supplies Assistance 2025
İBB provides food and essential needs support to households in Istanbul identified as needy. These supports are typically offered as food parcels or as cash credits loaded onto the Istanbulkart.
Support provided under the food assistance program includes:
- Food Parcel Assistance: Packages containing staple foods such as rice, pasta, oil, sugar, and flour.
- İstanbulkart Support Payment: Regular cash assistance loaded onto the Istanbulkart of households registered for social aid.
- Ramadan and Eid al-Adha Support: Additional assistance may be provided during religious holiday periods.
Who Can Apply for İBB Food and Supplies Assistance?
Food and supplies assistance from İBB is available to those who reside in Istanbul and are identified as needing support following a social assessment. The following criteria are considered during application review:
- Low income (the family’s total income must fall below a certain percentage of the minimum wage)
- Responsibility for disabled, elderly, or chronically ill family members
- Widowed or divorced women
- Citizens who are unable to work
- Persons without social security coverage
How to Apply for İBB Food and Supplies Assistance
Applications can be submitted using the methods below:
1. Online Application:
You can fill out the form through the İBB Social Services online application page.
2. ALO 153 Call Center:
You can apply by phone by calling the İBB ALO 153 line.
3. In-Person at Social Service Centers:
You can apply in person at İBB Social Service Centers located across Istanbul.
4. Through Neighborhood Directorates (Muhtarlıklar):
Neighborhood directorates in Istanbul can accept applications for İBB social assistance programs.
Important: During application you may be asked to provide your national ID card, residence certificate, documents proving income status, and other supporting documents.
İBB Education Support 2025 (Young University Student Scholarship)
İBB’s Young University Student Education Support is a scholarship program that provides financial assistance to university students. In the 2024–2025 academic year, students received a total scholarship amount of 15,000 TL. Updates for the 2025–2026 period will be announced by İBB.
Who Can Apply?
- Students who are Turkish citizens
- Students enrolled in associate (two-year) or undergraduate (four-year) programs
- Students whose families reside in Istanbul
- Students enrolled in state universities or privately funded programs with full scholarship
- Students who receive KYK scholarship but do not receive KYK loan
Not eligible: Open education (distance learning), remote education students, and evening/second-shift students cannot benefit from this scholarship.
Application Process and Required Documents
Applications are submitted online via İBB’s official website.
Required Documents:
- Photocopy of national ID
- Student certificate (can be obtained via e-Government)
- Documents proving the family’s income status
- The student’s bank account details
Note: Application dates are typically announced in September–October. Follow İBB’s official announcements for the latest updates.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) About İBB Assistance
1. When are İBB social aid results announced?
The evaluation process for applications usually takes about 4–6 weeks. You can check your application status via ALO 153 or İBB’s online application system.
2. How often is food and supplies assistance provided?
İBB’s food assistance is generally provided monthly or once every three months. Additional aid may be given during special periods such as Ramadan and Eid al-Adha.
3. How much money is loaded onto the İstanbulkart?
İBB can provide cash support of up to 1,500 TL per month to low-income families. This support is available via İstanbulkart and can be used for basic needs such as groceries and transportation.
4. Who is not eligible for the education support?
Students enrolled in open education or remote learning programs, evening/second-shift programs, students living outside Istanbul, and those receiving KYK loans are not eligible for this scholarship.
5. Under what circumstances are İBB aids canceled?
Assistance will be canceled if the applicant’s financial situation changes and they no longer require aid, or if it is discovered that false documents were submitted during application.