What Are the Conditions for Disability Retirement?
Serious health problems that arise during working life bring the question “Is retirement possible?” to the agenda for many people. In particular, disability retirement stands out as one of the most important social security mechanisms offered by SGK for insured individuals who have significantly lost their ability to work. So, what is disability retirement, what are the conditions for disability retirement, how is an SGK disability retirement application made, and in which cases is retirement possible with a medical report? In this Papel Blog article, in accordance with Law No. 5510 on Social Insurance and General Health Insurance, we address diseases covered by disability retirement, disability rate calculation, e-Government disability retirement applications, and the details to be considered in the process.
What is disability retirement?
Disability retirement is a special type of retirement that allows insured individuals who have seriously lost their ability to work to obtain the right to early retirement without a minimum age requirement within the scope of SGK disability retirement. This system aims to protect individuals who become unable to work due to illnesses or accidents that occur after they start working as insured persons.
The basic criterion for disability retirement is the determination that the individual has lost at least 60% of their working capacity. This loss is documented during the retirement process with a medical board report obtained from hospitals authorized by SGK, and the report must be approved by SGK. In addition, certain conditions regarding the number of premium days and the insurance period must be met as of the date the report is obtained.
In this process, the insured person is referred to an authorized hospital through SGK, and a disability retirement application is made together with the medical board report obtained. If the application is accepted, the retirement pension to be granted is calculated based on the insured person’s number of premium days, insurance period, and average earnings. In other words, disability retirement is a retirement right granted by SGK to individuals who have largely lost their working capacity due to serious health problems that develop after they start working as insured persons.
The difference between disability retirement and retirement due to disability
Although disability retirement and disabled retirement are often confused, their conditions and scopes differ from each other. Disability retirement applies when an illness or accident that occurs after the insured person starts working results in a loss of at least 60% of working capacity; therefore, SGK requires that the disability has occurred after the start of insurance and that the situation is determined with a disability report.
Disabled retirement, on the other hand, is evaluated regardless of whether the disability occurred before or after becoming insured. The main criterion here is the completion of tax reduction benefits and premium day requirements determined according to the disability rate. In addition, while it is not possible to work as an insured person again after retiring due to disability, in a disabled retirement, a person can continue to work before retirement and may work under certain conditions after retirement. In short, when retirement with a medical report is mentioned, disability retirement covers more severe and subsequently developed health losses, whereas disabled retirement offers early retirement opportunities within a broader framework.
What are the conditions for disability retirement?
For disability retirement, both health and insurance criteria must be met. To obtain the right to SGK disability retirement, SGK primarily requires that the insured person has lost at least 60% of their working capacity. This situation is determined with a medical board report obtained from hospitals authorized by SGK and submitted for SGK approval.
In addition, the insured person must have been insured for at least 10 years and must have paid at least 1,800 days of premiums. It is also an important criterion that the disability occurred after the insured person started working. At the time of application, the person is expected not to be actively working.
There is no age requirement for disability retirement. Individuals who meet the necessary health and premium conditions can apply for disability retirement regardless of age. When loss of working capacity, number of premium days, and an SGK-approved medical report come together, the right to disability retirement arises.
Who can retire due to disability?
To be able to retire due to disability, SGK disability retirement conditions must be fully met. First of all, it must be documented with a medical board report that the insured person has experienced at least a 60% loss of working capacity. This report must be obtained from health institutions authorized by SGK.
In addition, the insured person must have at least 10 years of insurance period and 1,800 days of premium payments. Those who have insufficient premium days may complete this requirement through methods such as borrowing. Since there is no age requirement for disability retirement, anyone who meets the necessary conditions can apply regardless of age.
However, the disability must have occurred after the insured person started working. Health problems that existed before starting work are not directly evaluated within the scope of disability retirement.
Which diseases are included in disability retirement?
There is no fixed list published by SGK for diseases included in disability retirement. The evaluation is made according to the rate of loss of working capacity caused by the disease in the individual. Diseases that cause at least a 60% loss of working capacity may be evaluated within the scope of disability retirement.
In practice, serious neurological and psychiatric diseases such as cancer types, multiple sclerosis (MS), Parkinson’s disease, epilepsy, brain tumors, dementia, and schizophrenia are frequently included in this scope. In addition, advanced cardiovascular diseases, organ failures, and chronic kidney diseases may also be evaluated for disability retirement.
Serious functional losses, such as vision loss, may also be included in the scope as a result of disability rate calculation and medical board evaluation. The determining factor here is how much the disease affects working capacity. In other words, not every health problem automatically entitles a person to disability retirement. The final decision is made as a result of the evaluation by the SGK medical board and the disability rate calculation.
How is a disability retirement application made?
A disability retirement application can be made in writing through SGK or via the e-Government disability retirement channel. The first step is to apply to SGK to obtain a referral to an authorized hospital for a medical board report showing loss of working capacity.
The insured person applies with a petition to the SGK provincial or district directorate to which they are affiliated. The report obtained from the hospital to which SGK refers the person is evaluated in terms of whether it meets the conditions for disability retirement. Applications can also be made via e-Government, and the process can be followed digitally.
If the application is accepted, a retirement pension is granted. If the application is rejected, there is a right to object to SGK within a certain period after the notification of the decision.
Points to consider in disability retirement
The most critical point in the disability retirement process is the compliance of the report obtained during the retirement with a medical report stage with SGK criteria. The report must state that the loss of working capacity is at least 60%. In addition, the number of premium days and the insurance period must be checked before applying.
Preparing the documents completely during the application prevents delays in the process. It should also be remembered that it is not possible to work as an insured person after retiring due to disability. It is possible to regularly track the status of the application and SGK’s evaluation through e-Government.
This blog post contains general information, not legal, financial, or investment advice. The content is prepared for informational purposes only, and you are advised to seek professional advice for your specific circumstances. The expressions in this article do not carry any binding nature or responsibility and reflect only the author’s evaluation. All your decisions are your responsibility, and Papel Electronic Money and Payment Services Inc. accepts no liability for any consequences arising from them.