Being insured holds a crucial place in our country. The state offers citizens several types of insurance coverage, allowing them to pay premiums for retirement and access subsidized health services provided by the government. In this article, we will examine the refund of premiums for farmer Bağ-Kur (self-employed social security) contributors.
One of the insurance categories is Bağ-Kur. People who do not have the opportunity to work in the public or private sector can qualify for retirement through Bağ-Kur coverage, and both they and their dependents can benefit from health services. Farmer Bağ-Kur members are included within the Bağ-Kur system.
Those engaged in agricultural activities can register with Agricultural Chambers or Provincial and District Directorates of Agriculture to benefit from farmer Bağ-Kur rights. To qualify for farmer Bağ-Kur, a person must not be employed in another job or receive a salary. If these conditions are not met, the person cannot be registered as a farmer Bağ-Kur insured.
Another topic relevant to farmer Bağ-Kur contributors is the refund of Bağ-Kur premiums. Farmer Bağ-Kur members pay premiums to the Social Security Institution (SGK) in order to qualify for retirement under their insurance. If later they decide they do not want to retire under that insurance, they may request a refund of the paid premiums. There are, of course, specific conditions that must be met to request such refunds.
According to the law, refunds of farmer Bağ-Kur premiums take two main forms. The first is a Lump-Sum Payment for Old Age. The second is a Lump-Sum Payment Due to Death.
Lump-Sum Payment for Old Age
First, consider the Lump-Sum Payment for Old Age in the context of farmer Bağ-Kur premium refunds. If a farmer Bağ-Kur insured person leaves their work or closes their business, and if they meet the required age for an old-age pension but are not eligible to receive a disability or old-age pension for other reasons, a lump-sum payment may be applicable.
Lump-Sum Payment Due to Death
The other refund option for farmer Bağ-Kur premiums is the lump-sum payment due to death. This payment becomes relevant when an insured person dies and no survivor’s pension is granted to the deceased’s family. In such a case, the death benefit amount is calculated based on the date of death and distributed among the insured’s spouse, children, parents, or other dependents in accordance with the legislation.
It is also important to clarify which premium payments are subject to refund. Refundable amounts include the disability, old-age, and death insurance premiums that were declared in the name of the insured. If the farmer Bağ-Kur contributor has paid premiums for service crediting (borçlanma) or voluntary insurance, these can also be included in the lump-sum payments. However, certain premiums are excluded: short-term insurance branches such as work accident, occupational disease, maternity insurance, and general health insurance premiums are not included in these refunds.
Applying for a Premium Refund
To request a refund of farmer Bağ-Kur premiums, a written application must first be submitted. Applicants should complete the allocation request and declaration form prepared by the Social Security Institution and submit it to the relevant local office.
The same documents are used when applying for a lump-sum payment due to death. When filing the allocation request, supporting documents for dependent children must be attached: exclude children under 18; for male children in secondary education, provide proof if under 20 years old; for those in higher education, provide proof if under 25 years old. Disabled children must have a medical board report attached.
Below is a sample of the Old-Age Lump-Sum Payment Request Form used when applying for a refund of farmer Bağ-Kur premiums:
OLD-AGE LUMP-SUM PAYMENT
REQUEST FORM
………… SOCIAL SECURITY PROVINCIAL DIRECTORATE
…………………………..
I am registered under your institution with insurance number ……………………………………. I have terminated my compulsory/voluntary insurance covered by your institution. I do not have active insured service under the Retirement Fund, Social Insurance Institution, other statutory retirement funds, or under laws numbered 1479/2926.
I cannot benefit from old-age/disability pension rights from your institution or any other institutions, therefore, pursuant to Article 39 of Law 1479 / Article 21 of Law 2926, I request that the insurance premiums I have paid to your institution be returned to me as an old-age lump-sum payment.
……./……./………..
Full Name:
Turkish ID Number:
Signature:
ADDRESS :
…………………………………………………….
…………………./…………………..
Phone Number:
I wish to collect my lump-sum payment from branch ………………………………………..
ATTACHMENTS :
Attachment-1: Civil Registry with events (vukuatlı nüfus kayıt örneği)
Attachment-2: Certificate of Insurance