Overview

When a Turkish citizen passes away, the surviving spouse may be entitled to a survivor’s pension (ölüm aylığı) under Turkish Social Security Law. This pension provides financial support to spouses and dependents of deceased insured persons or retirees registered with the Social Security Institution (SGK).

Who Is Eligible

To qualify, the applicant must have been legally married to the deceased at the time of death. Religious or unregistered marriages do not meet this requirement. Foreign nationals married to Turkish citizens are equally eligible, provided that the marriage was officially registered in Turkey.
Applications can be made:

• Directly to SGK offices in Turkey, or

• Through Turkish embassies and consulates abroad.

Required documents include:

• The death certificate of the insured person,

• A marriage certificate,

• Passport or ID copy of the surviving spouse,

• If residing abroad, a certificate of residence or existence from the local authorities.

Payment Rates

Under Turkish law and official SGK guidance:

• If the deceased leaves a spouse and children, the surviving spouse receives 50% of the pension.

• If there are no other dependents, the spouse receives 75% of the pension.

These ratios were reaffirmed in SGK’s official communication dated February 26, 2025. Payments are made monthly in Turkish lira and can be transferred to international bank accounts.

For Foreign Spouses Living Abroad

Foreign widows or widowers of Turkish citizens can continue to receive survivor pensions abroad. The payment process involves:

• Registering a bank account capable of receiving international transfers,

• Periodic submission of a certificate of existence (hayatta belgesi) through the nearest Turkish consulate.

This certificate confirms that the beneficiary is still alive and ensures uninterrupted payments.

Effect of Employment or Remarriage

If the surviving spouse later starts working in Turkey under a registered social security scheme, or remarries, the pension amount may be reduced or terminated depending on the circumstances. Foreign spouses living abroad typically retain their rights unless they remarry.

Our Legal Assistance

At Cindemir Law Office, we assist international clients in:

• Preparing and submitting SGK survivor pension applications,

• Obtaining necessary documents with Apostille legalization,

• Liaising with Turkish consulates abroad, and

• Managing inheritance and pension-related procedures for cross-border families.

We represent clients remotely, ensuring that the entire process is compliant with Turkish administrative and consular procedures.