Financial Rights of Daughters under Turkish Social Security Law

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Understanding Social Protection for Daughters in Turkey

Turkey’s social security system provides comprehensive protection not only for workers but also for their dependents. One of the most significant groups benefiting from this system are unmarried daughters of insured or retired persons. Under the Social Security and General Health Insurance Law No. 5510, daughters may receive monthly survivor pensions, one-time marriage payments, and health insurance coverage, depending on their circumstances.

These entitlements aim to ensure economic stability for women who are not yet in the workforce or who have lost financial support due to the death of a parent.

1. Survivor’s Pension (Yetim Aylığı)

Unmarried daughters whose parents were insured under the Turkish Social Security Institution (SGK) can receive a survivor’s pension for life, as long as they remain unmarried and unemployed.

  • Eligibility:
    Daughters qualify regardless of age if they are not working in a registered job and not receiving another income or pension.

  • Amount:
    The pension typically equals 50% of the deceased parent’s pension, or 25% per child if there are multiple beneficiaries.

  • Reinstatement:
    If the daughter later marries and then becomes divorced or widowed, she may reapply for her survivor’s pension.

This financial support acts as a lifeline for many women, helping them maintain basic living standards after losing a parent.

2. Marriage Payment (Evlenme Ödeneği)

When a daughter who receives a survivor’s pension gets married, her monthly payment is legally terminated. However, she becomes entitled to a one-time lump-sum “marriage allowance”, equal to two years (24 months) of her current pension amount.

For example, if her pension was TRY 6,000 per month, she would receive a TRY 144,000 lump payment upon marriage.

If the marriage ends within two years, the individual cannot immediately reclaim the pension but may reapply after the two-year period.

3. Other Financial Benefits

  • Funeral Allowance:
    If a daughter covers the funeral costs of her deceased parent, she can receive a funeral payment from the SGK.

  • Health Coverage:
    Daughters under 18, or up to 25 if studying, are automatically covered under their parents’ health insurance. Unmarried and unemployed daughters, including those with disabilities, benefit from lifetime health coverage.

4. Key Legal Considerations

  • Prohibition of False Claims:
    Turkish law (Article 56 of Law No. 5510) penalizes “fictitious divorces” — cases where individuals divorce only to regain access to survivor pensions. The SGK can terminate benefits and demand repayment with interest.

  • Cross-Border Applications:
    Foreign residents or widows can apply for these payments if their spouse was insured in Turkey. Applications can be submitted through Turkish consulates abroad, with notarized and apostilled documents.

5. How Cindemir Law Office Can Assist

At Cindemir Law Office, we help clients worldwide claim or protect their social security rights in Turkey. Our legal team assists with:

  • Preparing and notarizing Power of Attorney (PoA) documents for SGK applications,

  • Managing apostille and translation procedures,

  • Filing survivor’s pension and marriage allowance applications,

  • Representing clients before SGK and Turkish administrative courts,

  • Advising on inheritance and social benefit entitlements for foreign nationals.

Our international experience ensures that clients living abroad can efficiently access their rightful benefits under Turkish law.

Conclusion

Turkey’s social security system offers meaningful financial protection to daughters of insured individuals — especially through survivor pensions and marriage payments.
These rights not only preserve family welfare but also promote gender equality in access to social and economic support.

Foreign citizens connected to the Turkish system can rely on professional legal guidance to secure these benefits smoothly and lawfully.