10.11.2026 09:50
The Social Security Institution (SGK) is opening the door to early retirement with its wear-and-tear allowance scheme, which concerns millions of citizens working in risky and strenuous jobs. Under the regulation, which is stated to cover 45 occupational groups, employees can earn up to 180 days of additional premiums per year. It also provides the opportunity for up to 5 years of early retirement for those who meet certain conditions.
The wear allowance practice, which closely concerns the retirement plans of millions of employees, is back on the agenda. The system that SGK calls the actual service period supplement provides significant advantages to insured people working in heavy and dangerous jobs. Within the scope of the practice, while additional time is granted to the premium days of employees in certain occupational groups, the retirement age can also be reduced if the necessary conditions are met. Thus, employees who have served for many years under risky conditions can have the opportunity to retire earlier than other insured people.
IT CONCERNS 45 OCCUPATIONAL GROUPS
According to the information on SGK's official website, in the wear allowance practice, employees' occupations, the danger level of the work they do and their working conditions are taken into account. In the system, which is stated to cover 45 occupational groups, some employees can earn up to 180 days of additional service period for every 360 days of service. While this advantage contributes to completing the number of premium days more quickly, it also allows the retirement date to be brought forward under certain conditions.
MINERS, SOLDIERS, POLICE AND MİT PERSONNEL ARE ALSO ON THE LIST
Among the occupations that can benefit from the wear allowance practice are mine workers, Turkish Armed Forces personnel, employees of the Police Organization, members of the National Intelligence Organization, Coast Guard personnel and those working in radioactive jobs. However, not all of these occupational groups are granted additional time at the same rate. For example, while an additional service period of 180 days per year is envisaged for those working in underground mining jobs, for TAF and police personnel this period is calculated as 90 days in general practice.
Thanks to the wear allowance, the time added to employees' premium days helps retirement conditions to be completed earlier. However, not all of the additional premium days earned are directly deducted from the retirement age. The age reduction is calculated separately according to the occupation and the limits determined in the relevant legislation.
JOURNALISTS AND HEALTHCARE WORKERS CAN ALSO BENEFIT
The scope of the practice is not limited to the security and mining sectors. Journalists, personnel performing relevant news duties at TRT, those working in certain jobs in the glass, cement and casting industries, firefighters and healthcare workers are also among the groups that can benefit from the wear allowance.
The additional service period earned in these occupations varies. While an additional period of 90 days per year can be calculated in relevant duties in the press sector and some industrial jobs, an annual actual service period supplement of 60 days is applied to healthcare professionals in certain jobs related to human health. Healthcare workers such as dentists, pharmacists and nurses must also meet the duties and working conditions specified in the law in order to benefit from this right.
3600-DAY CONDITION FOR EARLY RETIREMENT
In the wear allowance practice, it is not enough for employees to merely be included in the occupational group. In order for a reduction to be made from the retirement age, a certain period must be worked in jobs covered by the actual service period supplement. While a minimum of 3600 days of work is required in general practice, this period is applied as 1800 days for those working in underground jobs.
Half of the additional service period earned by insured people who meet the conditions can be deducted from the retirement age, generally up to a maximum of 3 years. There are different arrangements for those working in underground jobs and for some special statuses. Therefore, the additional premium period earned through the wear allowance and the age reduction provided in early retirement must be evaluated separately.
CALCULATIONS VARY IN THE PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTORS
The insurance status of employees who will benefit from the wear allowance, their date of starting work and the period they actually worked are also decisive in the calculations. Retirement conditions may differ due to the legislation and transitional provisions to which public officials and private sector employees are subject.
In particular, different rules may be applied in the retirement calculations of public employees who started duty before 1999 and insured people under 4A status. Therefore, in order to determine how early employees can retire, SGK service records and actual service period supplement notifications must be examined.
IT IS POSSIBLE TO BRING THE RETIREMENT DATE FORWARD
The wear allowance creates a significant advantage in the retirement process for those who have worked for many years in heavy and risky jobs. However, the same premium increase or age reduction does not apply to every occupation. Employees can check their duties covered by the actual service period supplement and the additional periods they have earned through SGK and shape their retirement plans accordingly.