The new year will come with debts! A historic increase is on the way

Social Security Expert Özgür Erdursun, in his article titled "The cost of retirement will nearly double for those who delay," emphasized that 2025 will be the last economically advantageous year for retirement. According to Erdursun, after the regulation that will come into effect as of January 1, 2026, borrowing costs will reach historic levels.

Erdursun stated that the right to borrow, where past services can be evaluated through optional premium payments, is of great importance both for bringing forward the retirement date and for completing missing premiums. However, he stated that these costs will not show an "ordinary increase" as of 2026.

SINGLE AND DOUBLE INCREASE BORROWING TYPES

In Erdursun's article published in Dünya Gazetesi, it was stated that borrowing periods will be evaluated in two separate groups.

The first group includes borrowings where the cost will rise only depending on the minimum wage increase. While the rate remains constant in this group, the raise to be made to the gross minimum wage will increase the cost. Borrowings included in this scope are:

Birth borrowing (32% rate constant)

International borrowing (periods of work, unemployment, and homemaking – 45% rate constant)

In the second group, both the rate increase and the minimum wage raise will be effective. In this "double increase" group, rates are expected to rise from 32% to 45%. According to Erdursun, the periods included in this group are listed as follows:

Military service borrowing

Legal internship periods

Doctorate and medical specialization periods

Honorary assistantship periods

Unpaid leave periods of public personnel

Periods spent unemployed by those who resigned due to elections

International official student periods within the scope of Law No. 1416

Agricultural Bağ-Kur and periods with tax/chamber registration but not registered

Missing days of part-time employees

Periods spent in strikes, lockouts, and detention

THE DIFFERENCE IN 2026 WITH FIGURES

Erdursun stated that the current gross minimum wage is 26,005.50 TL for 2025 and accordingly, the daily earnings are calculated as 866.85 TL.

It was stated that while the 360-day borrowing cost is 99,860 TL with the calculation made over the 32% rate in the current system, this amount will rise to 140,428 TL in 2026 as the rates rise to 45%.

Furthermore, it was emphasized that in the event of a 30% increase in the minimum wage, the cost of the same borrowing period could rise up to 182,412 TL. According to Erdursun, the rate of this difference could reach up to 80%.

"TIMING IS NOW A STRATEGIC DECISION"

Erdursun stated that retirement planning has become too critical to be postponed and issued the following warning:

"2025 is the last opportunity year for borrowing. Those who apply this year will be able to benefit from the current rates and the current minimum wage. Every application postponed to 2026 means double the cost for the same period."