What are the requirements for retirement by age? A retirement guide for those born in 1968

A worker born in 1968 who entered the SSK (Social Security Institution) system in 1995 may question their right to retire on age grounds upon turning 58. Turkey's retirement system is shaped by a combined assessment of the insurance entry date, the number of premium days, and age requirements. Meeting all three of these conditions is mandatory for a retirement entitlement to arise.

Insured workers who entered the SSK in 1995 are subject to the transitional provisions of the old retirement legislation, as they joined the system before 2000. Under this framework, the age, premium days, and insurance duration requirements differ from those applicable to workers who entered the system in later periods. Whether the minimum number of premium days required to qualify for retirement has been completed — with 3,860 premium days — plays a decisive role.

The expectation of a low pension is directly linked to a low number of premium days and low premium-based earnings. Under the current system, the amount of premiums paid, the number of years worked, and the age at retirement are taken as the basis when calculating the retirement pension. For this reason, delaying retirement in order to increase the number of premium days can have a positive effect on the monthly pension amount. Applying to the SGK (Social Security Institution) to obtain a personalised retirement simulation is recommended in order to make the most informed decision.