One in every 3 retirees receives aid

Despite the minimum pension level being raised to 16 thousand 881 TL, many retirees continue to struggle to make ends meet. According to a report by Deniz Ayhan from Sözcü, the increase in the number of retirees applying to the Ankara Metropolitan Municipality for social assistance highlights this situation. The number of applications, which was 6 thousand 100 in 2023, reached 74 thousand 421 by 2025.

Ankara Metropolitan Mayor Mansur Yavaş stated that the concept of retirement needs to be re-evaluated, saying, "Retirement should be associated with a humane life, not poverty. Retirees should not have to struggle with the cost of living after working for years." Emphasizing that the lowest pension does not align with the realities of life, Yavaş asked, "With rent, bills, medicine, and food expenses, how is a retiree supposed to get by on this salary?"

SUPPORT PROVIDED BY THE MUNICIPALITY

The total meat support provided to retirees by the municipality was announced as 405 million 355 thousand 200 TL, and fuel support as 148 million 101 thousand TL. For general needs, 534 million 498 thousand 500 TL in support was provided. In total, the amount of aid provided to retirees reached 2 billion 162 million 536 thousand 200 TL. Additionally, it was stated that a total of 1 billion 74 million 586 thousand 500 TL was paid to the Başkent cards of 74 thousand 421 retirees.

INCREASE IN AID DEMAND

In June of last year, 39 thousand 482 retirees had benefited from the municipality's aid. This number rose to 59 thousand 733 in January 2025, 63 thousand 803 in February 2025, 67 thousand 449 in March 2025, and 68 thousand in April 2025. The number, which was 72 thousand 108 in May 2025, reached 74 thousand 421 in June 2025. This increase was recorded at 88 percent over the last year. Retirees organized protests across the country on July 3rd to demand that their pensions be adjusted to meet humane living conditions.