There are many insured citizens in our country covered by various types of social insurance. SSK (Social Insurance Institution for employees) and Bağ-Kur (social security for self-employed) are two of these insurance categories. Citizens pay premiums to qualify for retirement benefits and access state-supported services such as discounted healthcare. Workers under both SSK and Bağ-Kur contribute premiums. Transfers between insurance types are important for retirement rights. In recent years, switching from Bağ-Kur to SSK to achieve retirement has become an increasingly relevant issue.
According to legislation issued by the state, it is now possible to transfer from Bağ-Kur to SSK. This change has been welcomed by many Bağ-Kur contributors. Under previous laws, a Bağ-Kur member who wanted to be covered by SSK had to end any taxpayer status and terminate any company partnership. However, with the regulation effective from March 1, 2011, those conditions were amended. Now, a Bağ-Kur participant who is a company partner and a taxpayer can leave Bağ-Kur, transfer to SSK, and benefit from SSK rights. To qualify for SSK retirement rights, however, the person must have worked under SSK for at least 3.5 years within the last seven years.
There are several advantages to transferring from Bağ-Kur to SSK for retirement, which is why many Bağ-Kur insured view this move as an opportunity. It is reported that for those whose Bağ-Kur registration began before 2000, switching to SSK typically results in a pension increase of around 10%–15%. This potential increase makes SSK retirement attractive for many who plan to retire.
Those who move from Bağ-Kur to SSK can sometimes gain up to ten years of earlier retirement eligibility. Also, while Bağ-Kur retirement generally requires 9,000 days of contributions and an age condition, SSK contribution days required for retirement vary between approximately 5,000 and 7,200 days. From this perspective, retiring under SSK after transferring from Bağ-Kur can be more advantageous.
Citizens who wish to transfer from Bağ-Kur to SSK must apply to their local Social Security Center or the Provincial Directorate of Social Security. If they do not notify the relevant institutions about their transfer, their Bağ-Kur payments may not be stopped, and they could end up paying taxes for both Bağ-Kur and SSK simultaneously.
People who transfer from Bağ-Kur to SSK may also continue paying both Bağ-Kur and SSK premiums. This dual contribution can increase their eventual pension amounts. To arrange this, they must submit a petition to their Social Security Center or the Provincial Directorate of Social Security.
In general, the key points to know about transferring from Bağ-Kur to SSK and retiring under SSK can be summarized as follows:
- The transfer from Bağ-Kur to SSK should be made at least 3.5 years before planned retirement.
- Persons who previously paid Bağ-Kur contributions must request service consolidation after switching to SSK.
- After the SGK (Social Security Institution) completes the service consolidation, SGK determines the retirement conditions applicable to the Bağ-Kur to SSK transition.
- When transferring from Bağ-Kur to SSK, the minimum contribution period required to access healthcare services under SSK is 30 days.
- Periods such as military service and maternity leave counted as debt repayments do not count toward the 3.5-year requirement for the Bağ-Kur to SSK transition. For this period to affect retirement eligibility, the 3.5-year span must be actually worked under SSK.
- Submitting a petition and certain documents to the relevant institutions is necessary when transferring from Bağ-Kur to SSK.
- Citizens who could not access healthcare services due to outstanding Bağ-Kur debts can resume using health services 30 days after transferring to SSK.