06.02.2026 09:52
Since 2019, the "minimum pension" regulations have led to a serious structural crisis in the social security system. A "revision commission" was established within the Ministry of Labor and Social Security to address the gap between high and low premium payers. AK Party officials emphasized that the current situation is unsustainable and pointed to July.
The "premium-salary imbalance," which has been a topic of discussion in the social security system for a long time, has become a priority agenda item for the government. With the increase of the lowest pension to 20,000 lira, the rapid rise in the number of retirees who are stuck at the base pension despite paying high premiums has prompted the government to take action.
THE SYSTEM WILL BE RECONSIDERED FROM SCRATCH
After the adjustments regarding the increase in the lowest pension, the widening gap between the salaries of those who pay higher premiums and those who pay lower premiums has increased criticisms of the social security system. For some time now, discussions have been emerging within the AK Party regarding a "complete overhaul" of the social security system.
THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE RECEIVING THE LOWEST PENSION HAS REACHED 5 MILLION
According to the Turkey newspaper, following the improvements made by the government for those receiving the lowest pension since 2019, it has been noted that the number of people receiving the lowest pension has increased after each period of adjustment. After the lowest pension was raised to 20,000 lira, the number of people in this category reached 5 million, while it was reported that this number was 3.7 million in July 2025.
A COMMISSION HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED FOR PENSION SALARIES
It has been expressed that a search for a new formula has begun due to the increase in the number of people receiving the same salary as those who pay lower premiums despite paying higher premiums. According to the information obtained, a commission has been established at the Ministry of Labor and Social Security regarding the retirement system and pension salaries. It has been reported that the commission will work on regulations to eliminate the imbalance between the pension salaries and the revisions to be made to the system.
It has been noted that AK Party officials stated, "Currently, the top priority for both the party and the government is pension salaries. The gap between those who pay high premiums and those who pay lower premiums is increasingly closing. This situation is no longer sustainable."
"IT MAY COME TO THE AGENDA IN JULY"
AK Party Deputy Chairman Mustafa Elitaş also stated that the lowest pension is not sufficient, saying, "It is not possible to say that the lowest pension is adequate; it is difficult to live on a pension of 20,000 lira," and mentioned that the new regulation could come to the agenda in July.