News from the pro-government side: The figure the AKP is considering for the lowest pension has leaked from the lobbies!

The year 2024, which AKP Chairman and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan declared as the 'Year of Retirees', became a nightmare for retirees.

Millions of retirees struggling to make ends meet were condemned to a misery wage of 12,500 TL.

While the base pension of 2 million retirees remains below 10,700 TL, the pensions of 3 million 718 thousand retirees are topped up to 12,500 TL.

With the pension increase to be determined after the inflation rate is announced on January 3, a decision will also be made regarding the increase in the lowest pension.

While there is curiosity about what the lowest pension will be in 2025, what is being discussed in government corridors has leaked.

HOW MUCH WILL THE LOWEST PENSION BE IN 2025?

According to the report by the Türkiye newspaper, known for its proximity to the government, the increase to be made in the lowest pension will be put on the table with alternatives through work to be carried out by the Ministry of Labor and Social Security, the Ministry of Treasury and Finance, and the AKP's economic staff.

An impact analysis will be prepared on topics such as 'the cost to the budget and how many retirees it will cover' for the planned increase. The pensions of SSK and Bağ-Kur retirees are calculated by taking the last six-month inflation rate as a reference.

In this direction, it is estimated that a raise between 15.5 and 16.5 percent will be given to retirees. However, those whose base pension is 10,700 liras and below will continue to receive 12,500 liras despite this raise, unless a separate regulation is made.

AKP sources, stating that the lowest pension will be increased, noted the following:

“Currently, the pensions of 3 million 718 thousand retirees are topped up to 12,500 liras. The pensions of 2 million 50 thousand of these people are 10,700 liras and below. In other words, the pension of someone receiving 12,450 liras is topped up to 12,500; and the pension of someone receiving 7,400 liras is also topped up to 12,500.

'WE WILL LOOK AT THE MINIMUM WAGE'

Therefore, we will first look at how much the minimum wage will increase, and then the raises to be given to retirees will be clear with the inflation rate to be announced on January 3. After seeing all of this, a study will be conducted regarding the lowest pension. This figure will be increased, but the amount of the increase will be decided after January 3.

Because, for example, if it is to be 13,500, how many people will it cover, what is the cost to the budget, or if it is to be 14,000 liras, how many people will be affected, what will be the burden on the budget? Several alternatives will be brought to the table and calculations will be made. The certain thing is that the lowest pension will increase.”

'MAXIMUM 14,500'

Among the proposals discussed in AKP corridors and the government, the most prominent one is that the lowest pension should not fall below 13,500 liras. It is also stated that this figure could go up to 14,500 depending on the number of retirees who will be affected by the increase.

In the corridors, a proposal is also being discussed to make the pension increase for those whose pensions are topped up to 12,500 liras based on the 12,500 lira figure rather than the base pension. If this proposal is accepted, an increase at the six-month inflation rate will be on the agenda, taking the lowest pension of 12,500 liras as a base, even if the base pension is 7,400 liras. Thus, the pension of 3 million 718 thousand retirees, which is currently 12,500 liras, could rise up to 14,500 liras.

WHEN WILL THE LOWEST PENSION BE ANNOUNCED?

After the decision is made regarding the increase of the lowest pension, a legislative proposal on this matter will be submitted to the Speaker of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey (TBMM) by the AKP. Since the Parliament is expected to be in recess from the end of December until January 7, the proposal regarding pensions is expected to come to the agenda after this date. The proposal regarding pensions is planned to be enacted by the third week of January at the latest. If it does not catch up with the January payments, the difference that will occur in the pensions will be deposited into the retirees' accounts later.