SGK Report Clarifies New Generation's Retirement: 65 is the New Age Limit

The Social Security Institution (SGK) has laid out the current landscape of retirement in Turkey, revealing a complex system shaped by legislative changes. The Emeklilikte Yaşa Takılanlar (EYT) regulation, enacted in 2023, has significantly altered retirement pathways, creating distinct categories for millions of workers. For those insured before September 8, 1999, the age barrier has been removed, allowing them to retire based on accumulated insured days and years of service, with actual retirement ages often in the late thirties and early forties. A second group, insured between September 8, 1999, and April 30, 2008, still faces age requirements, with women retiring at 58 and men at 60, provided they meet the 7000 insured days criteria. The largest cohort, comprising approximately 17 million individuals who began working after April 30, 2008, is subject to a progressively increasing retirement age. This age will continue to rise every two years after 2035, with a clear trajectory towards a 65-year-old retirement age for many, particularly for civil servants and tradesmen starting after 2020 and workers after 2024. The SGK's report underscores that for a substantial portion of the workforce, retirement before 65 appears increasingly unlikely under the current framework, highlighting the evolving nature of retirement planning in Turkey.