Introduction

Under Turkish law, unmarried daughters of insured persons may be eligible for several types of financial support provided by the Social Security Institution (SGK). These payments aim to protect women who are economically dependent on their families and ensure continuity of income in the event of death, marriage, or other social risks.

This article explains the main monetary benefits available to daughters under the Social Security and General Health Insurance Law No. 5510, and how foreign families connected to Turkey can claim these payments.

1. Survivor’s Pension (Yetim Aylığı)

The survivor’s pension is the most common payment daughters receive after the death of an insured parent.

• Eligibility:
  Unmarried, unemployed daughters of a deceased insured person can receive a monthly pension, regardless of age.
  If the daughter later marries or starts working in a position covered by social insurance, the payment is stopped.

• Amount:
  The monthly pension equals 50% of the deceased parent’s pension if one daughter exists, or 25% each if there are multiple beneficiaries.
  If the deceased parent’s spouse is also entitled to a survivor’s pension, shares are adjusted according to the family composition.

• For Foreign Nationals:
  Foreign widows or daughters of Turkish insured persons may also apply, provided the deceased paid contributions to the SGK. The application can be filed through the nearest Turkish consulate, with notarized and apostilled documents.

2. Marriage Allowance (Evlenme Ödeneği)

The marriage allowance—sometimes called the “bridal payment”—is a one-time lump-sum granted to daughters who are already receiving a survivor’s pension.

• Purpose:
  When the daughter gets married, her monthly survivor’s pension legally ends. To support her transition to a new household, the SGK pays a lump sum equal to two years (24 months) of her current pension.

• Example:
  If a daughter receives a monthly pension of TRY 5,000, she will receive a lump payment of TRY 120,000 upon marriage.

• Re-entitlement:
  If the marriage later ends due to divorce or widowhood, she can re-apply for the monthly pension after two years have passed.

This regulation aims to provide financial stability at the time of marriage while preventing double support from both a spouse and the state.

3. Funeral Allowance (Cenaze Ödeneği)

If a parent passes away and was an active insured person or pensioner, the SGK provides a funeral allowance.
Although this payment is typically given to the spouse or a close relative who arranges the funeral, an unmarried daughter may claim it if she bears the funeral expenses.

• The allowance amount is updated annually by the government and can be transferred to a Turkish or international bank account.

4. Health Coverage for Daughters

Even when no monthly cash benefit is provided, daughters under the age of 18 (or up to 25 if studying) are covered by their parents’ general health insurance.
Unmarried daughters who are unemployed or disabled remain covered without any age limit.

For foreign clients, SGK benefits may extend if the deceased parent worked in Turkey under bilateral social security agreements with countries such as Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, or Spain.

5. Common Issues and Legal Assistance

Some claimants have lost their pensions due to “fictitious divorces”—when a married woman legally divorces her spouse only to re-qualify for survivor benefits. Turkish law (Article 56 of Law No. 5510) explicitly penalizes such cases, allowing the SGK to reclaim all payments with interest.

Cindemir Law Office assists clients in:

• Verifying eligibility for survivor pensions or marriage allowances,

• Preparing applications and notarized authorizations,

• Coordinating apostille and translation of foreign documents,

• Representing clients before the SGK and Turkish administrative courts.

Conclusion

The Turkish social security system provides substantial financial protection for daughters, particularly through monthly survivor pensions and marriage allowances.
Foreign families with Turkish social security links can benefit from these mechanisms by following the proper legal procedures. Understanding these rights can ensure that daughters receive their full entitlements and maintain economic stability in critical life transitions.