Retirement calculation for Bağ-Kur members is changing: New regulation on the way

The expectation to reduce the 9,000-day premium requirement for retirement for tradespeople working under the Bağ-Kur system to 7,200 days is back on the agenda. The regulation is expected to cover small business owners and artisans in particular.

With the EYT (Retirement Age) regulation, the age requirement was removed for those insured on or before September 8, 1999. However, the difference in premium days between SSK and Bağ-Kur continued. While SSK employees can retire with between 5,000 and 5,975 days of premiums depending on their insurance start date, a 9,000-day requirement is applied to Bağ-Kur tradespeople.

A regulation to reduce this gap has been expected for a long time. Although restructurings for premium debts have been implemented, it is stated that small business owners, in particular, have difficulty meeting retirement conditions due to the high premium burden.

ERDOĞAN'S ELECTION PROMISE

AKP Chairman and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan had announced before the 2023 elections that the premium day count for approximately 1 million small business owners would be equalized with SSK employees and reduced to 7,200 days.

If the regulation is implemented, the premium period required for the retirement of Bağ-Kur tradespeople will decrease by 1,800 days. Thus, 7,200 days of premiums will be sufficient instead of the current 9,000-day requirement.

PREPARATIONS FOR THE REGULATION CONTINUE

Türkiye Gazetesi columnist İsa Karakaş shared the latest insider information regarding the Bağ-Kur premium regulation. According to the information provided by Karakaş, the preparations for the regulation have reached the final stage.

The study is expected to be drafted as a legislative proposal and submitted to the Grand National Assembly of Turkey (TBMM). The regulation is projected to come into effect next year.

WHICH BAĞ-KUR MEMBERS WILL BENEFIT?

The planned regulation is not expected to cover all Bağ-Kur members. It is stated that the main target group will be tradespeople and artisans.

İsa Karakaş used the following expressions regarding the scope of the regulation and the conditions to be sought in the retirement application:

"Tradespeople and artisans are the main target group of the regulation. The premium requirement will be reduced from 9,000 days to 7,200 days.

Since the current premium requirement for women within the scope of EYT is already 7,200 days, no additional reduction will be made. However, it may be possible for female tradespeople who are subject to the 9,000-day requirement for the post-EYT period to benefit.

A very important condition for submitting a retirement petition in the Bağ-Kur system was underlined. Even if all conditions are met, a Bağ-Kur member with debt does not have the opportunity to retire.

It is stipulated that there must be no outstanding premium debt as of the moment the retirement application is made.

For this reason, it is recommended that Bağ-Kur members eligible for EYT check their debt status now and plan their retirement accordingly."

News Source: 12punto