Minimum living allowance, known as AGİ, is a concept that defines an additional payment provided by the state to employees covered by social security. Eligibility and the amount depend on many factors, such as whether the insured worker is single or married and whether they have children. Beyond these well-known conditions, AGİ amounts can also vary in other specific situations.
Factors That Affect the Minimum Living Allowance
The minimum living allowance reflected in employees’ wages is calculated based on several key criteria. All insured employees are eligible for AGİ, so it concerns every worker. However, as an employee’s personal circumstances change, the AGİ amount may be adjusted. The most common determinants are marital status (single or married) and the presence of children, which directly influence the allowance. In addition to those factors, there are other conditions that may change entitlement or the amount paid.
Specifically, an employee’s marital status, whether their spouse works, the number of children, the children’s ages and whether they are in education are all considered when recalculating the AGİ amount for an insured worker. Because AGİ amounts are not updated automatically, employees must report such changes to ensure their allowance is adjusted correctly.
No Automatic Updates
Employees must notify their employer of any changes in their social or marital status to continue benefiting from the minimum living allowance. If no notification is given, AGİ will continue to be paid based on the previously declared situation. For example, if an employee gets married but does not report it for AGİ purposes, the allowance will continue to be paid as if they were single. Employees are required to inform their employer within one month of any change in marital status, the number of children, children’s ages or education status, or changes in the spouse’s employment or income. Once the AGİ notification is submitted, the allowance is recalculated and the updated amount applies starting from the following month, which can increase the employee’s benefit.
Conditions That Change the Minimum Living Allowance Amount
Because the minimum living allowance varies according to each employee’s circumstances, it is recalculated under different conditions.
The main factors that affect the AGİ calculation include:
- The presence of children who live with or are financially dependent on the employee. This category includes children receiving alimony, adopted children, grandchildren who live with the contributor and have lost their parents, and other children under the care of the employee. Children under 18, or under 25 if they are actively enrolled in education, are counted in the AGİ calculation. For children who have finished their education after turning 18, the allowance amount changes accordingly. If a child who left education later resumes studies between ages 18 and 25, the allowance can be recalculated.
- If the spouse has no income and does not receive a pension, this increases the AGİ entitlement. In this case, the spouse’s lack of social security coverage affects the allowance, even if there are no children.
- When spouses are divorced, entitlement to AGİ for children typically applies to the spouse who has been granted child support. If an ex-spouse was not previously working and not receiving AGİ, but after divorce receives child support, that parent may claim the allowance for the children and the AGİ amount will increase.