Civil servant and worker retirees are also waiting for the minimum wage.

To ensure that the lowest pension does not fall below the inflation rate, the Ministry of Treasury and Finance will provide a welfare contribution to those receiving monthly payments at the base level this year as well. It is expected that at least 3.2 million retirees and nearly 3 million citizens receiving widow, orphan, and old-age pensions will be affected by the welfare contribution.

EXPECTATIONS FOR RETIREES' WELFARE CONTRIBUTION HAVE GROWN

As the end of the year approaches, the increase in the lowest pension has also come onto the agenda of the economic management. 3.2 million retirees are not benefiting sufficiently from the increase based on the 6-month inflation difference to be applied to the monthly payments of SSK and BAĞ-KUR retirees. A welfare contribution formula is being considered so that these retirees can also benefit from the 6-month increase. In this context, two indicators, the minimum wage increase and the 6-month inflation difference, will be examined to clarify the welfare contribution to be made to the lowest pension.

ADDITION OF WELFARE CONTRIBUTION TO THE LOWEST PENSION

There are comments that the government is working to increase the minimum wage by less than 35% in 2025. In this context, the government is preparing to make a welfare contribution to ensure that the lowest pension also remains above the 6-month inflation difference.

HOW MUCH WILL PENSIONS INCREASE FOR 2025?

On the other hand, the inflation rate for November came out higher than expected. This has reduced the likelihood of meeting the inflation target by the end of the year. Therefore, the possibility of the 6-month inflation difference being between 16% and 18% has strengthened. If the annual inflation in January 2025 exceeds the Central Bank's year-end target of 44%, retirees will receive at least a 16% increase.

15 THOUSAND TL SCENARIO FOR THE LOWEST PENSION

Out of 17 million retirees, 3.2 million receive the lowest pension of 12,500 TL. These retirees are not benefiting from the 6-month increase because their base pensions are below 10,700 TL. In addition to the 6-month increase rate, a welfare contribution will also be added to this group's base pension. Thus, the increase rate will exceed the 6-month inflation rate. In this framework, it is stated that the lowest pension will be shaped within a band of 13,500 TL to 16,000 TL.