10.08.2026 07:20
The bill containing historic improvements to the rights of families of martyrs, veterans, and disabled individuals in the line of duty was accepted unanimously by 382 deputies in the General Assembly of the Turkish Grand National Assembly and became law. With the new regulation, significant increases were provided in the pensions of veterans and disabled individuals, and it also paved the way for granting monthly pensions to citizens who were injured on July 15 and during the fight against terrorism but were not considered disabled under the existing legislation.
The bill titled "Law Proposal on Amendments to Certain Laws" was enacted in the Turkish Grand National Assembly General Assembly with the joint will of all parties with parliamentary groups. The regulation, accepted with the unanimous "yes" votes of all 382 deputies who participated in the vote, secured many financial and social rights that relatives of martyrs and veterans had long awaited.
REMARKABLE INCREASES IN MONTHLY SALARIES AND ADDITIONAL PAYMENTS
Under the new law, the monthly salary calculation grades for disabled veterans who are non-commissioned officers, privates, security guards, military students, and civilians were raised. Accordingly, regardless of educational status, salaries will be calculated based on at least the 1st grade of the 10th degree, and for four-year university graduates, the 1st grade of the 8th degree.
Additionally, the additional payment made to veterans and disabled individuals in need of care was increased to 2.5 times the net minimum wage. It was also decided that the total monthly salary to be provided to the parents of all deceased disabled veterans cannot fall below the net minimum wage.
MONTHLY SALARY RIGHT FOR THE WOUNDED NOT CONSIDERED DISABLED
One of the most critical articles of the regulation concerned citizens who were injured during terrorist acts and while trying to thwart the July 15 coup attempt. It was stipulated that public officials and civilians who were injured during counter-terrorism duties or on the night of July 15 but were not considered disabled due to the degree limits in the current legislation would also be granted a monthly salary.
On the other hand, the age limit for the right to be re-examined due to changes in the conditions of disabled veterans, non-commissioned officers, and privates was set as the date they reach the age of 55.
HERE ARE THE ITEMIZED INCREASES
The new law, which brings increases at various levels, includes the following changes:
- A guarantee that the salaries provided to the parents of martyrs will not fall below the minimum wage was introduced. Thus, salaries currently between 7,000-9,000 liras will rise to 14,037 liras (so the total equals the minimum wage), and those between 15,000-16,000 liras will rise to 21,500 liras.
- Veterans will receive a monthly salary of at least 58,590 to 68,000 liras depending on their disability degree. Those with a severe disability degree will receive 86,000 liras.
- A lower limit (base salary) was introduced for the total monthly salary to be provided to non-commissioned officers/privates, security guards, students, and civilians, ensuring it cannot be less than the amount found by multiplying the indicator figure of 35,398 by the civil servant salary coefficient.
- Veterans who were injured on the night of the treacherous July 15 coup attempt but could not receive a disability degree will also be granted a monthly salary. The salary, which will be 28,076 liras when the law is enacted, will increase according to indicator increases. These individuals will also benefit from rights granted to war veterans, such as electricity-water discounts and free transportation.
- Those injured in counter-terrorism operations who could not receive a disability degree and whose disability status could not be graded (including civilians) will be granted a monthly salary of 28,076 liras, provided they meet the necessary conditions.
- The amount paid to veterans receiving home care assistance was also increased to 70,187 liras.
"WE ARE OPENING THE DOORS TO A NEW ERA"
Minister of Family and Social Services Mahinur Özdemir Göktaş made a statement on her social media account regarding the law.
In her post on social media, Göktaş said, "We are opening the doors to a new era that strengthens the rights of the precious families entrusted to us by our martyrs and our heroic veterans who put their lives on the line for our homeland."
Göktaş stated that with the regulations, "We are improving the salaries paid to the parents of all our martyrs so that they do not fall below the minimum wage."
Also emphasizing that July 15 veterans will be granted a monthly salary, Göktaş said, "We are increasing the salaries of those who were injured on July 15 and in counter-terrorism operations and were not considered disabled but were granted a salary after degree determination." Göktaş also stated that with the regulation, they increased the care salary paid to severely disabled veterans.
WHAT DOES THE REGULATION INCLUDE?
The proposal amends the Law on the Pension Fund of the Republic of Turkey. Accordingly, by removing the limitations regarding the scope, it is legally guaranteed that the total monthly salary to be provided to the parents of all deceased disabled veterans, without making a categorical distinction, will not be less than the net amount of one month's minimum wage.
With another regulation in the law, the payment made to veterans and disabled individuals in need of care, which was 2 times the net minimum wage, is increased to 2.5 times the net minimum wage.
The proposal also amends the Counter-Terrorism Law to increase the salaries of disabled veterans, non-commissioned officers, privates, security guards, students, and civilians.
Accordingly, the salaries to be provided under the provisions of the relevant Law, provided that their rights to a higher salary due to their public duties carried out under the titles they earned as a result of the schools they completed are reserved, cannot be lower than the disability salary amount calculated over the pensionable salaries of those in the first grade of the eighth degree for at least four-year higher education graduates, and others, regardless of their educational status, in the first grade of the tenth degree; and for them, increases to be made according to the relevant paragraph of the Law on the Pension Fund of the Republic of Turkey will be made based on the same degree as the starting point. For degree advancements, they will be treated like higher education graduates, and the additional indicator figures to be taken as basis will be 2,100 for those advancing to the fourth degree, 2,200 for those advancing to the third degree, 3,000 for those advancing to the second degree, and 3,600 for those advancing to the first degree.
The total amount of the salary to be provided to those under this paragraph cannot be less than the amount found by multiplying the indicator figure of 35,398 by the civil servant salary coefficient, and the salary amount for beneficiaries cannot be less than the amount determined based on their share ratios. According to the provision, payments made to the relevant persons in excess will be collected by the Social Security Institution from the Treasury against an invoice.
With another regulation in the Counter-Terrorism Law, the indicator table for those who were injured due to terrorist acts but are not considered disabled according to the relevant legislation, yet whose degree determination has been made according to the provisions of the Regulation, has been updated, and the amount of salary provided has been increased.
Additionally, the indicator figures serving as the basis for the salaries of those who were injured during the July 15 coup attempt and within the scope of counter-terrorism but were not considered disabled, yet had degree determinations made, are increased. Other rights granted to war veterans, such as free travel, discounts on electricity and water usage fees, are also provided.
These regulations will enter into force effective from the payment period following their publication.
Furthermore, with the provisional article added to the Counter-Terrorism Law, the principle of granting a monthly salary to personnel injured during counter-terrorism duties but not considered disabled under current legislation, in the amount found by multiplying the indicator figure of 17,135 by the civil servant salary coefficient, is introduced.
With the regulation, Turkish Armed Forces, Gendarmerie General Command and Coast Guard Command military personnel including non-commissioned officers and privates, members of the National Intelligence Organization, Police Service Class personnel, military students and security guards are covered. Injuries caused by firearm bullets, shrapnel or explosive ammunition (IED, mines, mortars, rockets, hand grenades, etc.) resulting in penetrating wounds to the body due to terrorist acts, injuries sustained from their blast (explosion pressure) and thermal effects, or injuries resulting from close combat attacks by members of terrorist organizations with cutting, piercing, crushing weapons are also included.
Provided that the injury on the date of the incident is not of a minor nature that can be remedied by simple medical intervention, and that a causal link between the current health condition and the injury on the date of the incident is established by a health board report including at least one forensic medicine specialist, the Social Security Institution will grant a monthly payment amounting to the product of the civil servant monthly coefficient multiplied by the figure of 17,135. The payments will be transferred by the Treasury to the SSI upon invoice, and these individuals will be able to benefit from other social and personal rights provided to veterans under Law No. 1005, excluding monthly payment provisions.
The regulation will be applied once for incidents occurring before the law enters into force. Applications must be made within one year from the effective date of the law to the institutions as of the date of the incident. If it is later determined that the concerned individuals are disabled, their monthly payments granted under this article will be discontinued by applying the provisions of disability in the line of duty.
These regulations will enter into force on the date of publication, effective from September 1, 2026.
With the regulation, an amendment is made to the Social Insurance and General Health Insurance Law, regulating the age limit for the right of re-examination of privates and non-commissioned officers based on the date they reach the age of 55.
A monthly payment will be granted to public officials and civilians who were injured while being helpful and useful in uncovering the FETÖ's July 15 coup attempt and terrorist act and acts of a continuing nature, reducing their effects or ensuring their elimination, and who are not considered disabled or whose degree has not been determined according to the provisions of the Regulation on the Types and Degrees of Disabilities in the Line of Duty, starting from the beginning of the month following the effective date of this regulation, amounting to the product of the civil servant monthly coefficient multiplied by the figure of 17,135.
The law to be applied regarding these payments has also been determined. Payments made by the Social Security Institution under this regulation may be collected from the Treasury within two months upon invoice.