Retirees' pensions defeated by inflation: Raises eroded in the first three months

The 2025 inflation data announced by the Turkish Statistical Institute (TÜİK) has caused disappointment for retirees and fixed-income earners. With rates announced at 5.03 percent in January, 2.27 percent in February, and 2.46 percent in March, the total inflation for the first three months of the year reached 10.06 percent. However, the increases made to salaries remained behind this rate.

RAISES ERODED AGAINST INFLATION

SGK expert Özgür Erdursun made the following assessment regarding the issue:

"In January 2025, an increase of 15.75 percent was applied to SSK and Bağ-Kur retirees, and 11.54 percent to civil servants and civil servant retirees. In the first three months, 10.06 percent of this increase has eroded."

According to Erdursun's statements, the majority of salary increases in the first quarter of the year evaporated in the face of inflation.

Along with the inflation data for April, May, and June, the six-month inflation difference will be reflected in the salaries of SSK and Bağ-Kur retirees. For civil servants and civil servant retirees, an inflation difference will be applied in addition to the collective bargaining agreement raise.

EXPECTED RAISE RATES FOR RETIREES ANNOUNCED

Erdursun projected the raise rates expected to be applied as of July as follows:

Total raise rate for SSK and Bağ-Kur retirees: 15-16 percent

Between 12-13 percent for civil servants and civil servant retirees

HOW MUCH WILL THE LOWEST PENSION BE?

The lowest pension, which was 14,469 TL in January 2025, has effectively fallen to 13,099 TL with inflation. Erdursun stated that this figure could rise to around 16,500 TL in July.