19.01.2026 12:41
While the lowest pension payment is increased to 20,000 lira, it is being discussed in Ankara circles that a flat increase and high percentage raises that will please retirees may come to the agenda in the second half of 2026.
SSK and Bağ-Kur retirees received a 12.19% increase for the first half of 2026, in line with the inflation rate in the second half of 2025. The legal regulation prepared to provide a higher increase for the lowest pension was approved by the TBMM Planning and Budget Commission.
INCREASE FOUND INSUFFICIENT
The lowest pension, which is 16,881 lira, was decided to be increased by 18.4% to 20,000 lira. The regulation presented to the Parliament by the AK Party sparked public debate as it passed through the commission. Some groups found the increase insufficient.
NEW INCREASE SIGNAL IN ANKARA LOBBIES
TGRT News Ankara Representative Fatih Atik shared information he obtained from the ruling party's lobbies in his column. Atik stated that the difficulties faced by retirees are on the agenda of the People's Alliance, writing that "the prevailing view among AK Party officials is that an increase to be made a few months before the election will not be sufficient, and retirees need to see improvements sooner."
"STEPS MAY COME IN THE SECOND HALF OF 2026"
Atik expressed that steps to please retirees are expected to be taken starting from the second half of 2026. It was reported that these steps include a flat increase and high percentage salary increases, and that the holiday bonuses are being discussed to be raised to 5,000 lira.
BAHÇELİ'S "POVERTY WAGE" STATEMENT
MHP Chairman Devlet Bahçeli also drew attention to retirees in his group speech last week, stating, "We cannot condemn them to a poverty wage; we must raise them to a level where they can live humanely," and called for the necessary steps to be taken for retirees receiving the lowest salaries.