05.01.2026 16:51
According to the inflation data for December released by TÜİK, the rate of increase for civil servants, retired civil servants, and SSK and Bağ-Kur retirees has been clarified for the first half of 2026. Civil servants and retired civil servants will receive a 18.60% increase, while SSK and Bağ-Kur retirees will receive a 12.19% increase. While a legal regulation is required for the lowest pension, experts have stated that a welfare share could also be added. It is said that if a welfare share is added to the lowest pension of 18,942 TL, it could reach 20,000 TL.
With the announcement of the inflation data for December by the Turkish Statistical Institute (TÜİK), the rate of increase that civil servants, retired civil servants, SSK, and Bağ-Kur retirees will receive in the first half of 2026 has become clear. The necessity of legal regulation for the lowest pension and the possibility of a "welfare share" have come back to the agenda.
DECEMBER INFLATION REVEALED
According to the data announced by the Turkish Statistical Institute (TÜİK), the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for the period of December 2025 was realized as 0.89% on a monthly basis and 30.89% on an annual basis.
18.60% INCREASE FOR CIVIL SERVANTS AND RETIRED CIVIL SERVANTS
According to TÜİK data, the 6-month inflation difference for civil servants and retired civil servants was 6.85%. When an 11% collective bargaining increase is added to this difference, the salary increase for civil servants and retired civil servants for the first 6 months of 2026 was calculated to be 18.60%.
12.19% INCREASE FOR SSK AND BAĞ-KUR RETIREES
The increase rate for SSK and Bağ-Kur retirees was determined to be 12.19%.
LEGAL REGULATION ON THE LOWEST PENSION ON THE AGENDA
It is stated that a legal regulation is needed to determine the amount that will arise when the increase rate of 12.19% applicable to retirees is added to the lowest pension. In this context, whether a higher increase or welfare share will be applied has also become a matter of curiosity.
"WELFARE SHARE MAY BE ADDED"
Economist Muhammet Bayram, speaking on CNN Türk live broadcast, stated that the current lowest pension is 16,881 TL, saying, "If it is done based on a figure of 12.20%, it will be quite low. I think there is a possibility that an extra welfare share may also be added on top of this."
Bayram expressed that according to the current calculation, the lowest pension will rise to 18,942 TL, while stating, "If the lowest pension is like the salary increase of civil servants, it becomes 20,023 TL... I expect it to exceed the 20,000 TL limit."
"REGULATION NEEDS TO BE MADE WITH A COMPREHENSIVE LAW"
Economist Prof. Dr. Sefer Şener, speaking on TGRT News live broadcast, emphasized that the increase in the lowest salary needs to be restructured, stating that this should be done with a comprehensive law. Şener said, "It definitely needs to be changed by a law, and as far as we can see, preparations are being made."
Şener also noted that whether a welfare share will be given during the regulation process should also be brought to the agenda.