Bonus payments to be made to those working while receiving widow's and orphan's pensions

While pension payments can be subject to garnishment for tax, premium, and alimony debts, the one-time 5,000 TL bonus to be paid for the 100th anniversary of the Republic will be exempt from garnishment. Working retirees will not receive the bonus, but those who continue to work while receiving a widow's or orphan's pension will receive the bonus in proportion to their share. Ahmet Kıvanç from Habertürk wrote about the frequently asked questions regarding the bonus payment to be made to retirees.

The law regarding the one-time 5,000 TL bonus to be given to retirees for the 100th anniversary of the Republic has passed the Turkish Grand National Assembly (TBMM). The law has been sent to the Presidency to be approved by the President and published in the Official Gazette. The bonuses will be deposited into the accounts of retirees in the first half of November.

The retirement bonus will be paid to those who receive a pension from the Social Security Institution (SGK) under the SSK, BAĞ-KUR, and Emekli Sandığı schemes and who are not working in any insured job. Those who retired from 18 private funds belonging to chambers, insurance companies, and banks within the scope of Provisional Article 20 of the Social Insurance and General Health Insurance Law No. 5510 will not be able to benefit from the bonus.

RETIREMENT BONUSES CANNOT BE GARNISHED

Pension payments can be subject to garnishment for tax and premium debts as well as alimony debts. It is also possible for retirement bonuses and severance pay to be garnished.

However, the one-time 5,000 TL bonus to be given to retirees, as well as widows and orphans, for the 100th anniversary of the Republic cannot be garnished, and no deductions can be made from these payments.

WHO WILL NOT RECEIVE THE BONUS?

To receive the retirement bonus, one must be receiving a pension from the SGK in October and not be working in an insured job. Accordingly, SSK and BAĞ-KUR members who submitted their retirement applications by September 30, 2023, and public employees who submitted their retirement applications by October 14, 2023, will also be able to receive the bonus.

Retirees who have worked in an insured job for even one day in October will not be able to receive the bonus. Those who continue to work in public workplaces without their pensions being suspended after retirement will also not be paid the bonus.

Retirees who, after retiring from SSK, BAĞ-KUR, or Emekli Sandığı, engage in activities that fall under the scope of BAĞ-KUR by establishing a company, opening a shop, or becoming a partner in a company will not be able to receive the bonus.

THOSE WORKING WHILE RECEIVING A DEATH BENEFIT WILL BE ABLE TO RECEIVE THE BONUS

Those who have worked in an insured job for even one day between October 1 and October 31 while receiving a pension will not be able to benefit from the bonus. However, this rule will not apply to those who receive a widow's or orphan's pension (death benefit) or a permanent incapacity income while continuing to work. For example, a woman or man who continues to work and also receives a widow's pension due to their deceased spouse will be able to receive the bonus. Children who are receiving an orphan's pension due to their deceased parents while continuing to work will also be able to benefit from the bonus.

HOW MUCH BONUS WILL BE PAID TO THOSE RECEIVING WIDOW'S AND ORPHAN'S PENSIONS?

Those receiving a widow's and orphan's pension will benefit from the 5,000 TL bonus in proportion to their share. For example, a person receiving a 50 percent widow's pension due to their deceased spouse will be paid 2,500 TL. Children receiving a 25 percent orphan's pension due to their parents will be paid 1,250 TL.

Those receiving a permanent incapacity income from the occupational accident and disease insurance will be paid a bonus in proportion to the permanent incapacity rate that forms the basis for the income. For example, a person with an incapacity rate of 30 percent will be paid 1,500 TL.

When payments are made to the beneficiaries of those who died while receiving a permanent incapacity income due to losing less than 50 percent of their professional earning capacity as a result of an occupational accident or disease, the deceased person's incapacity rate and the beneficiaries' shares will be taken into account. A person with a permanent incapacity rate of 40 percent can normally receive a 2,000 TL bonus if they are alive. If this person has passed away, a 1,500 TL bonus will be given to their spouse who is receiving a 75 percent income, and a 1,000 TL bonus will be given to their spouse who is receiving a 50 percent income.

SINGLE PAYMENT FOR THOSE RECEIVING MULTIPLE PENSIONS

For those receiving more than one pension, the bonus will be paid only through the file that allows for the highest payment. For example, if a person is receiving a pension due to their own employment and at the same time receiving a 50 percent widow's pension due to their deceased spouse, they will only be paid a 5,000 TL bonus due to their own retirement.

HOW WILL PAYMENT BE MADE TO EXPATRIATES RECEIVING PARTIAL PENSIONS?

Those working as insured employees in countries that have signed a social security agreement with Turkey receive separate partial pensions in return for their work in both countries. These individuals will also benefit from the retirement bonus. The bonus amount will be calculated by dividing the number of premium days in Turkey by the total number of premium days in both countries. For example, a person with 3,600 premium days in Turkey and a total of 12,000 premium days in Turkey and a foreign country will be paid 1,500 TL.

EYT MEMBERS WHO HAVE APPLIED BUT HAVE NOT YET HAD THEIR PENSION CONNECTED WILL ALSO BENEFIT

There are individuals who have submitted their retirement applications within the scope of the regulation for those stuck in the age bracket (EYT) but whose pensions have not yet been connected. Among them, those who did not work in any insured job in October will also benefit from the bonus. The bonuses for these individuals will be paid together with their first pension payments.