Civil servants can begin retirement procedures once they complete 15 years of service and reach the age of 61. Those whose first insurance registration dates back to before 9 September 1999 and who have paid at least 10 years of contributions may also be eligible for retirement. A frequently asked question is whether completing 10 years of service and reaching age 50 for women or 55 for men allows a civil servant to retire early.
Who Is Covered by Retirement with 10 Years of Service and Ages 50–55?
The option to retire after 10 years of service and at ages 50 or 55 primarily applies to workers employed under worker status who have active contributions. Civil servants are not eligible for this specific option. This provision, which applies only to workers, was introduced through temporary article provisions in amendments made on 8 September 1999 and subsequent changes through May 2022.
What Are the Conditions for Retirement with 10 Years of Service and Age 55?
According to current law, to retire at 50 or 55 with only 10 years of service, the insured person must have an initial insurance registration date before 8 September 1999 and must have started working before that date. Another requirement is completing a total insured period of 15 years.
Those who had 15 years of insured service before May 2002 — women reaching age 50 and men reaching age 55 — may be eligible for an old-age pension provided they have paid 3,600 social security contribution days.
Retirement Process for a Civil Servant Subject to Law 5510 Who Previously Worked as a Worker before 8 September 1999
If a person who worked as a worker before 8 September 1999 later served as a civil servant for 10 years, can they retire at ages 50 or 55?
In such cases, civil servants covered by Law No. 5510 must meet the requirement of 15 years of paid social security contributions and generally must reach the age of 58 for women and 60 for men to qualify for retirement.
Article 28 of the law is applied when assessing such situations. Under this provision, if the statutory age limit has not exceeded 65, up to 3 additional years can be added, and with a minimum of 5,400 social security contribution days paid, an old-age pension can be granted.
Conditions Required for Civil Servant Retirement
For both female and male civil servants, retirement eligibility depends on the insurance start date and the total paid contribution days. These factors affect the applicable retirement age. Civil servants must have a 15-year insured period. Paying 3,600 contribution days alone does not allow retirement at ages 50 or 55 for civil servants. Instead, at least 5,400 days of contributions (equivalent to 15 years) must be completed, and the earliest retirement age is generally 61.
| Period When 5,400 Days Will Be Completed | Retirement Age — Female | Retirement Age — Male | Total Paid Social Security Service |
| 01.05.2008 – 31.12.2035 | 61 | 63 | 15 years (At least 5,400 days) |
| 01.01.2036 – 31.12.2037 | 62 | 64 | 15 years (At least 5,400 days) |
| 01.01.2038 – 31.12.2039 | 63 | 65 | 15 years (At least 5,400 days) |
| 01.01.2040 – 31.12.2041 | 64 | 65 | 15 years (At least 5,400 days) |
| 01.01.2042 – 31.12.2043 | 65 | 65 | 15 years (At least 5,400 days) |
| 01.01.2044 – 31.12.2045 | 65 | 65 | 15 years (At least 5,400 days) |
| 01.01.2046 – 31.12.2047 | 65 | 65 | 15 years (At least 5,400 days) |
| From 01.01.2048 onward | 65 | 65 | 15 years (At least 5,400 days) |
Retirement Process for Female Civil Servants
The retirement age for female civil servants can range from 61 up to 65, depending on when the required 15-year insured period (at least 5,400 contribution days) is completed.
- If the 5,400-day service is completed between 1 May 2008 and 31 December 2035, a woman with 15 years of paid contributions may retire at age 61.
- If completed between 1 January 2036 and 31 December 2037, retirement is at age 62 with 15 years of paid contributions.
- If completed between 1 January 2038 and 31 December 2039, retirement is at age 63 with 15 years of paid contributions.
- If completed between 1 January 2040 and 31 December 2041, retirement is at age 65 with 15 years of paid contributions.
Retirement Process for Male Civil Servants
For male civil servants, the retirement age begins at 63 and may rise to 65 depending on when the 5,400 contribution days (15 years) are completed.
- If the 5,400-day service is completed between 1 May 2008 and 31 December 2035, a man with 15 years of paid contributions may retire at age 63.
- If completed between 1 January 2036 and 31 December 2037, retirement is at age 64 with 15 years of paid contributions.
- If completed between 1 January 2038 and 31 December 2039, retirement is at age 65 with 15 years of paid contributions.
- If completed between 1 January 2040 and 31 December 2041, retirement is at age 65 with 15 years of paid contributions.