17.01.2026 15:40
The depreciation allowance, which adds 60-90-180 days to the premium days of workers in heavy and risky jobs while also reducing the retirement age, was expanded with the 2026 regulation to include new sectors such as cement, aluminum, foundry, and glass industry, primarily affecting healthcare workers.
For millions of workers dreaming of retirement, the number of premium days and age requirement are determining factors, while those working in heavy and risky professions can retire earlier thanks to the "wear and tear allowance." This practice, known as the Actual Service Time Increase, adds additional days to the workers' premium days and provides a reduction in retirement age with the accumulated time; the scope, which was limited until 2026, has been expanded with new regulations.
WHAT IS WEAR AND TEAR ALLOWANCE, WHAT DOES IT PROVIDE?
Wear and tear allowance means that workers in heavy jobs earn additional premium days for each year. Under normal conditions, a worker pays premiums for 360 days a year, while in professions with wear and tear allowance, this period increases by 60, 90, or 180 days per year depending on the risk group. For example, if you work in a job with a wear and tear allowance of 90 days for 12 months, your SGK premium is processed as 450 days instead of 360 days.
IT ALSO REDUCES THE AGE REQUIREMENT
The application not only increases the premium days but also reduces the retirement age limit by the additional time earned. The accumulated periods can bring the retirement age forward by up to 5 years (up to 8 years in some very heavy jobs).
THE LIST HAS EXPANDED
With the regulation made in 2026, the scope of wear and tear allowance has expanded, and new risky job sectors and some areas in the health sector have been more strongly included in the list.
PROFESSIONS ON THE LIST
- Journalists: Reporters and press workers who hold a yellow press card.
- Mining and Underground Workers: They have the highest allowance. (180 days a year, or 6 months).
- Security Forces: Military, Police, MIT members, Prison guards.
- Heavy Industry: Workers in iron and steel factories, those working with toxic substances such as mercury production, acid production.
- Firefighters: Firefighting teams.
NEWLY ADDED PROFESSIONS
Cement factory workers, aluminum factory workers, foundry workers, and glass industry workers have also been included in the list as of 2026.