THE REPUBLIC OF TURKEY

MINISTRY OF FAMILY, LABOUR AND SOCIAL SERVICES

39th COUNTRY REPORT

PREPARED BY

THE GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF TURKEY

IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE ARTICLE 74

OF THE EUROPEAN CODE OF SOCIAL SECURITY

Reference Period: 01.07.2019-30.06.2020

2020

REPORT

39th General Annual Country Report including the developments and changes in the legislation of the Social Security Institution (SSI) between 01 July 2019 and 30 June 2020 regarding the implementation of the obligations laid down in the accepted parts of the European Code of Social Security is submitted below.

I.  OVERVIEW

With the entering into force of Social Security Act No. 5502, published in the Official Gazette on 20 May 2006, several social security institutions that were in charge of execution of the provisions of several Acts to serve different workers’ categories have been incorporated into a single organizational structure as a result of which a Social Security Institution has been established.

The Social Security and Universal Health Insurance Act No. 5510, drafted within the framework of sustainability to ensure uniformity regarding norms and standards for the insurance branches and in their implementation by the former social security schemes incorporated under the Social Security Reform which eventually passed in the Grand National Assembly of Turkey in 2006, came into force on 01 October 2008.

Thereby, the social security reform, which thoroughly re-regulates the social security system in our country, started to be implemented.

With the Social Security and Universal Health Insurance Act No. 5510 which came into force in October 2008, the differences of the rights and obligations of the insured subject to social security institutions incorporated instead of different provisions applied for different working groups in our country have been removed and a new social security system has been established which they are equal in respect of rights and obligations. Taking into account both the emerging challenges of the current system in our country and the expected change in the population structure, it has been intended to reach a fair, easily accessible, a more effective protection against poverty and a financially sustainable social security system in the mid and long term. In addition, a uniformity of norms in the health and pension systems has been ensured.

In accordance with the Act, the statuses of the insured persons who have started to work for the first time as from October 2008 have been redefined as follows:

§  Persons employed by one or more employers on the basis of a service contract (4/1-a),

§  Persons employed in the public administrations (4/1-c).

Accordingly, the insured persons who had been subject to Acts No. 506 and No. 2925, the insured persons who had been subject to Acts No. 1479 and No. 2926 and those who had been subject to Act No. 5434 before the beginning of October 2008 are deemed to be covered under 4/1-a, 4/1-b and 4/1-c of the Act No. 5510 respectively.

The social security of those working on the basis of contributions covers the benefits provided in the insurance branches of sickness, maternity, occupational accidents and diseases (short term insurance branches), invalidity, old-age and survivor’s (long term insurance branches) as well as benefits provided from the universal health insurance. Social benefits and services offered for the groups who are out of the system with contributions and subject to indigence criteria are guaranteed by the State.

A. ADMINISTRATION / ORGANISATION

Having had the financial and administrative autonomy and public legal entity, the Social Security Institution has been established by the Act No. 5502. The Institution is subject to private law provisions in cases where there is no provision in the said Act, and the Presidential Decree No. 4 of 15/07/2018 on the Organization of Affiliated, Related, Associated Institutions and Organizations of the Ministries and Other Public Institutions and Organizations.

The Institution is the relevant organization of the Ministry of Family, Labour and Social Services and is subject to the audit of the Court of Accounts.

The aims and duties of the Social Security Institution are stated in the Presidential Decree No.4. The main purpose of the Institution is to maintain an effective, equitable, easily accessible, actuarially and financially sustainable social security system based on the principles of social insurance.

1.      Administrative Structure/Practices

Administrative bodies of the Social Security Institution comprises of the General Assembly, the Board of Directors and the Presidency. The General Assembly is the decision making body that bears the highest decision, competency and responsibility of the Institution.

The President has the highest superiority in rank and is responsible to the Board of Directors for the Institution’s actions as well as activities and performances of his subordinate officials.

Organizational structure

The Presidency of Social Security Institution consists of central and provincial organizations.

a. Central organization

Central organization consists of the following units:

  1. General Directorate of Pension Services
  2. General Directorate of Insurance Premiums
  3. General Directorate of Universal Health Insurance
  4. General Directorate of Service Provision
  5. Board of Guidance and Inspection
  6. Department of Actuaries and Fund Management
  7. Presidency of Strategy Development
  8. Department of Human Resources
  9. Department of Support Services
  10. Department of Construction and Real Estate
  11. Presidency of Training, Research and Development
  12. Department of Legal Consultancy
  13. Consultancy of Media and Public Relations

Within each general directorate, a maximum of 11 departments can be established by a resolution of the Board of Directors.

b. Provincial organization

The provincial organization of the Presidency consists of social security provincial directorates established in each province (in all 81 provinces) and social security centers (at district level) affiliated to provincial directorates.

The Board of Directors decided upon the foundation of a total number of 607 Social Security Centers, 454 out of which are Social Security Centers, 34 Guidance Social Security Centers, 37 Health Social Security Centers and 82 Financial Services Social Security Centers. 558 Social Security Centers are now in service, 412 of which are Social Security Centers, 28 Guidance Social Security Centers, 36 Health Social Security Centers and 82 Financial Services Social Security Centers.

Status of the personnel

In the central and provincial organizations of the Social Security Institution, the personnel are employed in the statuses listed in article 4 of the Law No. 657 and in the status of IT specialist with contract in accordance with article 28 of the Law No. 5502.

2.      Changes and developments

a.      Changes made in the reference period:

In the scope of the provisions of this Act, monthly pays and the total amount of monthly payments made under disability and old-age insurance cannot be less than 1,000.00-TL including the additional payments to be made pursuant to Article 1 of the Act No. 5454, dated 08/02/2006; whereas the total amount of payments made under death insurance cannot be less than the amount to be determined based on the ratio of the shares of the beneficiaries of such amount. The lower limit was rearranged as 1,500.00- TL with the Law Amending Some Laws No. 7226 dated 25/03/2020. Reducing the economic burden brought by Covid-19 pandemic to households was the main motive behind this rise.

In order to reduce bureaucratic works and transactions and to ensure that the actual service period hike is determined and transferred to the Service Tracking Project (HİTAP) program, the actual service hike determination transactions are started to be done according to declaration, period and premium amounts sent from Deduction Information System for October 2008 and after. Starting from October 2008, the issuance of the Determination Certificate for the employees specified in the table in the second paragraph of Article 40 of the Law No. 5510 has been abolished as of 01/11/2019.

Pursuant to the Resolution of the Board of Directors dated 16/05/2019 and numbered 2019/105, General Letter dated 17/07/2019 and numbered E.10310749 has been issued regarding those who are selected and appointed to certain positions while receiving pension will be deemed insured within the scope of Article 4/1-c of the Social Insurance and General Health Insurance Law No. 5510 as of 16/05/2019, without the cancelling of the pensions.

The additional Article 18 incorporated to the Law No. 5510 by Law No. 7143, regarding the payment of the feast bonus (1,000.00- TL twice a year) to those who are entitled to receive a monthly pension on the date of payment was amended by the Law No. 7226 dated 25/03/2020 and it was reorganized in such a way that those who were paid during the month of the holiday were entitled to the holiday bonus.

With the Law No. 7226 on the Amendment of Some Laws, the sentence "However, on the basis of their work after the starting date of the pension, if they have been insured for at least 20 years and paid at least 5000 days of disability, old age and death insurance premiums, they also benefit from the old age pension" was added to the second paragraph of Article 4 of the Law No. 2330 and entered into force on 26/03/2020, when the Law No. 7226 was published. Accordingly, “service disabled people” those who are disabled during their duties for military or civil security or within the scope of war disability and military service, and who continue to work after start of the monthly invalidity pension, are provided with the opportunity to qualify for the old-age pension without any age requirement, if they fulfil the conditions of 20 years of insurance period and 5000 premium days with the work after the date of pension.

Pursuant to the Additional Decision of the President of the Decision No. 2040 dated 07/01/2020, those who have premium debt and who cannot benefit from health services have been able to benefit from health services from 01/01/2020 until 31/12/2020.

With the Law No. 7186 on Income Tax Law and Amendments to Some Laws, Articles 3, 4, 5 and 9 of the Law No. 3201 on the Assessment of the Duration of Turkish Citizens Abroad in Terms of Social Security have been amended, Provisional Article 5 was repealed and Provisional Article 9 was added to the Law. Accordingly, as of 01/08/2019, the amount of borrowing[1] to be accrued for each day to be borrowed is taken as 45% of the daily earnings to be selected between the minimum and maximum daily earnings based on the premium stated in Article 82 of the Law No. 5510 on the date of application. The periods of working abroad borrowed as of 01/08/2019 (inclusive) are accepted as past insurance period within the scope of Article 4/1-b of the Law No. 5510. In case the working period before the start of the insurance in Turkey is borrowed, these periods are calculated by the insurance starting date in Turkey based on the provisions of Article 41 of Law No. 5510; if there is no insurance in Turkey, then the borrowing period is calculated backwards from the date of the fully payment of the amount of borrowing.

The minimum wage support, which was implemented in 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019, was enacted by the Provisional Article 80 added to the Law No. 5510 by Law No. 7226 and will continue to be implemented in 2020.

The Circular No. 2020-8, which explains the procedural, fundamental and hesitant issues regarding administrative fines imposed by SSI, has been published.

Tax and premium service declaration, which is being implemented as a pilot scheme in Kırşehir, Bartın, Amasya and Çankırı provinces, has been started to be applied for employers in Bursa, Eskişehir and Konya provinces and their districts as of 01/01/2020.

Implementation of notification of accrual and collection periods to employers via e-mail has been implemented.

Following the flood disaster in the provinces and districts of Düzce, Sakarya and Zonguldak on 18/07/2019, it has been made possible to postpone the debts to SSI that have expired before 18/07/2019 and the debts to be accrued until the end of the third month following the date of the disaster, of the private sector employers employing insurance holders in the scope of Article 4/1-a of the Law No. 5510, the insurance holders under the scope of 4/1-b and insurance holders paying their own premiums according to the same law, for up to one year from the date of disaster. The debts could be postponed provided that they make a request within three months from the date of the disaster (until the end of 18/10/2019) and document that they are affected by the flood disaster.

Following the flood disaster in the districts of Salıpazarı and Terme of the province of Samsun on 23/08/2019, it has been made possible to postpone the debts to SSI that have expired before 23/08/2019 and the debts to be accrued until the end of the third month following the date of the disaster, of the private sector employers employing insurance holders in the scope of Article 4/1-a of the Law No. 5510, the insurance holders under the scope of 4/1-b and insurance holders paying their own premiums according to the same law, for up to one year from the date of disaster. The debts could be postponed provided that they make a request within three months from the date of the disaster (until the end of 23/11/2019) and document that they are affected by the flood disaster.

The Workplace Declaration Application for the employers employing insurance holders within the scope of subparagraph (a) of the first paragraph of Article 4 of the Law No. 5510, has been included to e-Government applications.

The employers who have lost their right to restructure their debts under Law No. 7143 have been given the right to record their current month premium payments as a restructuring instalment.

Compulsory completion of general health insurance premiums for the missing days to thirty days for part-time or on-call employees, those working at certain times of the day of the month and receiving wages for the hours worked and working 20 days or less in a month was amended as less than 8 days, with the amendment made in Article 88 of the Law No. 5510 with Article 45 of the Law No. 7226.

Within the scope of the change brought by the Additional Article 9, the obligation to complete the general health insurance premiums for the missing days of more than 10 days to thirty days has been removed.

b.      Changes agreed, planned or proposed for the next term:

With the amendment made in the Regulation on Social Insurance Transactions on 05/12/2017, our employers have been given the right to merge permanent workplace files, and the implementation will start after the legislation and program arrangements are made.

A draft regulation on e-Notification application was prepared and approved by the Board of Directors and is pending for publication by the Ministry of Family, Labour and Social Services. Program studies on the subject continue.

Studies will be made to liquidate funds kept on consignment such as premiums, administrative fines, and unemployment insurance payments deposited by the employer.

A report will be prepared for the problems in 5 provinces with the highest number of employers             in 2020, through on-site inspection in employer services.

Within the scope of combating counterfeit establishments, work will be carried out to implement circular and program regulation.

Domestic services registration, accrual and collection structure in the context of Additional Article 9 of the Law no.5510 will be transferred to the employer system.

c.       Completed or initiated research (Evaluations included):

As a sub-component of the “Job Creation and Entrepreneurship Opportunities for Syrians under Temporary Protection and Host Communities in Turkey Project”, Registered Employment Transition Program (KİGEP) carried out jointly by the International Labour Organization (ILO) and SSI began on 06/02/2019. Within the scope of the said Program, additional employment support has been implemented for 1,100 Syrian and 1,100 Turkish citizens under temporary protection in Adana, Bursa, Hatay, Istanbul and Konya provinces. In this context, employers who employ a Syrian under Temporary Protection were paid 950 TL monthly. If there are Turkish employees in addition to Syrians, the employer has received 950 TL support payment for this Turkish worker. Support payments were made to employers benefiting from the program, up to a maximum of 6 months for each worker. In addition, Syrians' work permit fees of 372.20 TL (if not paid by another Institution) were covered by the Program budget. The program was successfully completed at the end of April 2020 with the final support payments.

As a result of the successful implementation of the Program, ILO provided a new fund through the German Development Bank (KfW) to implement a similar program in 11 provinces (Ankara, Aydın, Bursa, Gaziantep, Istanbul, Izmir, Kayseri, Konya, Manisa, Mersin and Şanlıurfa). In this context, under the name of KİGEPplus, it was decided that the program will continue to provide employers with a monthly support of TL 1,000 for each employee (for 1,530 Syrian and 1,530 Turkish citizens) for a maximum of 6 months and pay the work permit fees of 457.10 TL for 1,530 Syrian employees. With the Project Implementation Contract signed by the Board on 24/12/2019, KİGEPplus started to be implemented. At the same time, it may be possible to increase the Program budget to include 5,000 employees, if the Program is successful.

On the other hand, “Supporting Registered Employment of Women through Promoting Educated Child-Caregivers” (EDU-CARE) project is jointly financed by the European Union and the Republic of Turkey and carried out by the Social Security Institution. The Project, which was launched for the term 01/05/2019 - 31/12/2022, aims at increasing the registered employment rate of women, providing support for the employment of mothers who face the risk of leaving their jobs due to having small children, and increasing qualified labour in the care sector. In the scope of the Project, which is implemented in Ankara, Istanbul and Izmir provinces, it is planned to transfer 26 million Euros of support to women. The financial support implementation of the Project consists of two components: “Working Mother Support” and “Caregiver Training Incentive”. With Working Mother Support, the registered employment of 3,700 mothers and 3,700 trained caregivers is aimed. To this end, mothers are provided with a monthly support of 300 Euros. The support will be paid as 322 Euros in 2021 and 350 Euros in 2022. With the Caregiver Training Incentive, it is aimed to provide support for 6,000 trained carers up to 200 Euros for once.

In the scope of “Supporting Registered Employment of Women through Institutional Childcare Services” (INST-CARE) project co-financed by the European Union and the Republic of Turkey, 100 Euros monthly grant support is provided for an average of 10,250 women per month who live in 7 pilot provinces (Ankara, İstanbul, İzmir, Bursa, Antalya, Elazığ and Malatya), work under the service contract (4/1-b) and send their children to preschool education and care institutions (kindergarten, day care center, nursery, etc.) for 24 months. In addition, 13,000 beneficiaries are provided with a one-time fixed support of 100 Euros to cover the expenses such as stationary in the registration to these schools and institutions. The Project started on 01/04/2019 and will continue until 31/03/2022.

Operation on Supporting Registered Women Employment (Women-Up) Project was prepared by SSI and co-financed by the European Union, to protect women entrepreneurs against unfair competition, helping them to be more resilient for competition and increase the number of women entrepreneurs and registered women employees. The preparatory work for the Project is ongoing and the Operation Identification Document of the project in question was signed on 22/11/2019. The contract was signed on 06/03/2020.

Starting from January 2018, SMS messages for information have been sent to insurance holders, whose earnings level which is the base of premium calculation was determined to decrease by 20% or more. By the end of December 2019, an informative SMS was sent to 1,080,792 people.

In order to increase the effectiveness of unregistered employment related audits, an audit automation program has been prepared that will enable the entire audit process to be carried out electronically and has been put into use throughout the country.

Widespread and intensive audits for risky sectors were conducted by social security inspectors for two weeks in October and November throughout the country. In this context, 69,162 workplaces were audited in total, apart from routine inspections. As a result of the analysis, 35,000 workplaces that were determined to be risky were audited outside of routine audits. By making the necessary analysis on the missing pay notification, informative letters were sent to 50,000 workplaces that were found to be at risk.

In order to carry out the information and awareness raising activities planned within the scope of the 2019 Presidential Annual Program, the Information and Guidance Program for 2019 was prepared with the Presidency Authority dated 13/06/2019 and numbered 8559995, and with the letter numbered 11346775, Provincial Directorates are instructed. In this context, the following activities were carried out by SSI Provincial Directorates and completed as of 31/12/2019:

-          With the Presidency of Religious Affairs, brochures, guides and presentations were sent to the provinces that will include social security issues in their in-service training and in the trainings given in Religious Specialization Centers.

-          Brochures and information and guidance leaflets were prepared and sent within the scope of informing the relevant professional organizations and non-governmental organizations within the field of provincial organization.

-          Information and guidance leaflets about social security rights and obligations were sent to inform the local media.

-          Posters and brochures were prepared for the activities to be carried out to increase the social security awareness of the groups receiving social assistance and sent to SSI Provincial Directorates.

Risk-based audits to be conducted at workplaces identified in the results of the analysis of the data provided by the Revenue Administration, Turkish Statistical Institute (TURKSTAT) and SSI were postponed to the second half of the year due to the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The visits on the issue of foreign workers and information on social security rights and obligations that were made to the workplaces that employ the highest number of workers in Ankara and Hatay provinces were also carried out in Adana and Mersin provinces and employers were given information about work permits.

A draft has been prepared to amend the Regulation on Payment of Wages, Premiums, Bonuses and All kinds of Remunerations through Banks, to implement the obligation of paying wages through banks for workplaces currently employing 5 or more workers, for workplaces employing 3 or more workers. The draft regulation was prepared after receiving opinions of relevant institutions and organizations and sent to the Ministry of Family, Labour and Social Services for final approval and publication.

As of July 2019, within the scope of data sharing protocol studies aimed at preventing unregistered employment, protocols have been signed with Ministry of Family, Labour and Social Services, Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure, Ministry of Trade (formerly Ministry of Economy), Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Turkish Employment Agency (ISKUR), General Directorate of Security, Ministry of Culture and Tourism and Turkey Volleyball Federation to provide data related to employment. Technical studies on harmonization of data infrastructures have been initiated with these institutions/organizations. Meetings were held with the Banks Association (for data sharing with banks), the Ministry of Family, Labour and Social Services, the General Directorate of Security and the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry in order to establish electronic infrastructure and ensure electronic data flow.

3.      Payment methods

a.      Changes made in the reference period:

It is made compulsory to issue invoices over certain amounts in electronic environment by the Ministry of Treasury and Finance. The necessary infrastructure works have been carried out in order to receive invoices issued in electronic environment, and the payments of e-Invoice and e-Archive Invoices have been carried out without any problems.

In the payments of the projects financed by the European Union, foreign exchange payments have started to be made to the Republic of Turkey Identity numbers. In this way, project beneficiaries can receive foreign currency payments from all branches of the contracted bank.

Retirees or beneficiaries can view and pay their still or blocked pensions through e-Government portal. Again, in case of having a personal account in contracted banks, it is possible to define the bank account online and transfer payments such as incapacity to their own accounts.

In addition, all of these transactions carried out via e-Government may also be done by phone with ALO 170 Hotline application.

On the other hand, all countries have become vigilant for the Covid-19 pandemic, which emerged in Wuhan, China in December 2019, and spread to the entire World, and many measures have been taken in our country as well as all over the World.

In this regard, the last payment period of insurance premiums for March 2020 is postponed to 02/11/2020, the last payment term of insurance premiums for April 2020 is postponed to 30/11/2020, and the last payment term for insurance premiums for May 2020 is postponed to 31/12/2020, for those specified in the first article of the Decision No. 2020/188 dated 26/3/2020 taken by the Social Security Institution Board of Directors, income taxpayers due to commercial, agricultural and self-employment earnings, those who are exempt from income tax and registered in the register of tradesmen and craftsmen, those performing agricultural activities and have agricultural earnings, and private sector employers working under the scope of paragraph (a) of the first paragraph of Article 4 of the Law No. 5510 and the insured under the paragraph (b) of the first paragraph of Article 4 of the Law No. 5510, in sectors in the scope of force majeure by the Ministry of Treasury and Finance. The payments were postponed automatically without any delay penalty and interest as specified in Article 89 of the Law No. 5510.

b.      Changes agreed, planned or proposed for the next term:

By increasing the number of contracted banks, without having to go to any social security center or bank, the payment method made to an account and the Republic of Turkey identity number is planned to be carried out through all banks.

It is planned to examine 1,000 records in 2020 and report on the results in order to prevent unwarranted payments and to determine the causes of late notification due to the death information included in the Identity Sharing System.

4.      Use of information technologies

a.      Changes made in the reference period:

Studies in the field of Pensions:

E-government applications are constantly being increased. With the project of providing notification of the payments made by borrowing applications received through e-Government, realized within 2019 Central Action Plan, citizens who want to borrow can make their own borrowing transactions by making their own accrual after making their application through e-Government portal. Currently, only the insured under the scope of 4 / 1- (c) of Law No. 5510 can benefit from birth (child delivery of mothers) and compulsory military service duration borrowings.

A General Letter dated 12/11/2019 and numbered E.17443409 was sent to the relevant units regarding the consideration of the reserve officers' periods, which were started to be viewed from the SSI Registration and Service Scheme Program, as a service period. With this application, the intensity of service notification processes has decreased significantly.

The first monthly pensions and accumulated payments within the scope of sub-clause 4 / 1- (a) of the Law No. 5510 were sent to the relevant banks on the payment day determined according to the last digit of the insurance number in the month following the transaction date. The studies to enable these people to receive their first pensions and accumulated payment amounts without waiting for the payment period have been completed as of August 2019. With the introduction of the daily payment application, the payments which were made to the retired and right holders after 16 to 56 days according to the salary payment days, were sent to the bank in a minimum of two days.

Technical and legislative studies for determining undue income/monthly payment by comparing 4 / 1- (a), 4 / 1- (b) and 4 / 1- (c) retirement registers in 4 / 1- (a) payments system in 2019 were completed opened to operation as of August 2019. Thanks to the software in question, 4 / 1- (a) retirement payments and 4 / 1- (a), 4 / 1- (b) and 4 / 1- (c) retirement payment systems are compared and according to the current legislation, undue monthly payments are determined immediately.

It is provided to display tax deduction reports from the "Emektar 4A" program and health reports from the "E-disability" program. In the “Emektar 4A” program, the software for the automatic transfer of the shares of the right holder girls, was completed and put into operation.

In the “e-Allowance” program, necessary revisions have been made, especially about the earnings service. Likewise, in the "Health Provision and Activation System (SPAS)", necessary revisions have been made, especially regarding registration and entitlement. By enabling the incoming paperwork to be uploaded to the SPAS program, health activation processes are facilitated.

In accordance with the Institution's strategic plans, in order to use resources effectively, economically and efficiently, to activate pension services and to accelerate the determination processes, the documents that are the basis for the assessment of those who request disability determination from 02/09/2019 are scanned and sent through the Document Management System. Physical file flow is prevented by ensuring that documents are displayed on “e-Disability”.

With the opening of the applications on the e-Government platform, documents with barcode were started to be provided for the insured and beneficiaries who are entitled to receive pension under the scope of 4 / 1- (c) and 4 / 1- (a) more easily via e-Government.

Due to difficulties in making revisions needed within the framework of legislative amendments, 4 / c Java transformation studies of 4 / c Retirement and Payment Oracle programs are continuing.

A data sharing protocol has been established between the Ministry of Environment and Urbanization and SSI in order to enable Housing Development Administration (TOKI) and interest-free housing loan beneficiaries under the scope of 4 / 1- (c) to carry out their transactions directly at the relevant place without obtaining a document from SSI.

A data sharing protocol has been established between the Revenue Administration and SSI in order to enable beneficiaries under the scope of 4 / 1- (c) to benefit from the special consumption tax reduction, to carry out their transactions at the relevant place.

Service and deduction information of the insured working within the scope of 4 / 1- (c) were received electronically, and transactions were accelerated, and manual entries were reduced and error rates were minimized.

With the protocol made with the General Directorate of Security, the application for electronic recording of entry-exit records abroad was completed and put into operation.

Studies in the Field of Insurance:

In order to reduce the burden of the minimum wage increases on the employers in the previous years, software studies related to the 2020 minimum wage support given to the employers per insured have been completed.

The authenticity of the original, additional and cancelled statements for monthly premium and service with incentive, issued by the employers for the previous months were checked through software robots, and the appropriate ones were approved.

The electronic application named "How much do I earn with the incentive?" aiming to inform employers on incentives, covering 1.4 million employers who are direct beneficiaries of employment incentives was initiated.

The “Incentive Calculation Menu”, which is designed to calculate how much the incentive discount within the scope of the current incentives will be made by entering the premiums to be paid for the insured has been included in the “Employer System”, in order to benefit from the insurance premium incentives, support and discounts.

It is ensured that the transactions regarding the incentives to be applied in the case of children within the scope of the Social Services Law No. 2828 working in the private sector are made electronically.

The software studies for 1 percentage point discount application in unemployment insurance premium have been completed.

Studies have been completed to include the definitions related to incentives in Article 50 and Temporary Article 15 of the Unemployment Insurance Law No. 4447 and Article 30 of the Labour Law No. 4857 in the “Insured Identification to Benefit from Incentive” screens.

Within the scope of the Social Assistance and Solidarity Encouragement Law No. 3294, software studies on employers' benefiting from incentives in case of employment of social aid recipients have been completed.

Within the scope of the Law No. 7103 on the Amendment of Tax Laws and Certain Laws and Decree Laws, software studies related to providing wage support in the amount of extra deducted tax amount to the minimum wage employees, whose net wage decreased due to the change in income tax bracket during the year, have been completed.

In order to enable sending all the notifications such as administrative fines, enforcement, payment orders electronically and displaying the notifications via e-Government, software studies for the electronic notification of the articles in accordance with the Notification Law No. 7201 and the Law on the Collection Procedure of Public Receivables No. 6183 have been completed.

Neighbourhood representatives’ insurance records were queried and the insurance transactions were made online, by entering their ID number, transferred to the records of SSI by provincial or district civilian offices.

It was ensured that the insured persons who work in the same workplace and whose earnings taken as basis for the calculation of daily premium decreased by 10% or more compared to the previous month were informed regularly between 23 and 30 of the month via SMS. While determining the insured with decreasing earnings, the insured working in the same workplace were taken as basis and earnings calculations based on premium were taken daily.

In all cases where the workplace declaration is required, program studies have been completed for only electronic delivery of the declarations.

Within the scope of 4 / 1- (a), requests for voluntary insurance and termination of this insurance are received through e-Government.

Within the scope of 4 / 1- (a) and 4 / 1- (b), studies for receiving the birth (child delivery of mothers) and military debt applications of the insured via e-government have been completed.

Within the scope of subparagraph (i) of article 41 of the Law No. 5510, borrowing requests are provided to be received via e-government.

It is provided to take the insurance status record of the insured via e-Government.

Within the scope of 4 / 1- (a), it is provided to instantly display the employment and termination of employment information of the insured via e-Government and ALO 170 Hotline.

It is ensured that the requests of the insured under the scope of 4 / 1- (a) to borrow the normal doctorate or medical specialty education periods spent in Turkey or abroad without being insured, via e-Government.

It has been ensured the requests of the insured under the scope of 4 / 1- (a) to borrow a total of 1 year of attorney internship period -first six months in the courts, the remaining six months by a lawyer- without being insured, via e-Government.

With regard to the Foreign Service / Residence Document to be provided through e-Government, periods in foreign countries were started to be borrowed according to the Law No. 3201.

It is provided to add “borrowing periods on maternity leave period and unpaid leave” to the existing borrowing program.

In SSI Registration and Service Transcript application, it is enabled to display all military service information.

The studies for electronic tracking and collection of premiums that have expired or will expire soon have been completed.

Work has been completed to put pledge on vehicles owned by employers with premium debts to SSI.

Work is underway to put pledge on the real estate of employers with premium debts to SSI.

Studies in the Field of Health:

An application in “Medula Pharmacy” was put into practice on 01/07/2019 in order to increase the efficiency of public services, reduce bureaucracy, and prevent paperwork and the examination of invoice-annexed documents in a shorter period by preventing their loss with receival in electronic media. Furthermore, the application aiming at the examination of invoice-annexed documents in a shorter period by preventing their loss upon receival in electronic media in Medula Medical, Optical Market and Auditory Centres application was put into practice on 01/01/2020. 

“The Inspection Project” developed with the aim of ensuring the swift and reliable conduct of inspections carried out by Inspectors/Assistant Inspectors working at Provincial Directorates, preventing repetitions, enabling the obtainment of statistical information in a faster and safer way by the related units, saving time to be spent by inspectors and administrators and ensuring their faster and more proper use of state resources was put into practice upon its completion on 14/06/2019.   

The application of “The Project on the Instant Transmittal of Medicine Usage Reports Referred to SSI System to the Systems of the Ministry of Health” enabling the lodging of entry applications into reimbursement lists by pharmaceutical companies via manual documents in electronic media was put into practice on 28/08/2019. Thus, effective usage of this practice has helped to save storage, resources, time and workforce.    

In order to rationalize medicine and treatment expenditures, avoid unnecessary examination and analysis for patients and accelerate their treatment period by preventing waste of time upon consideration of sustainability of healthcare services and expenditures, “Examination and Analysis Sharing Application” developed with the aim of monitoring examination and analysis results without storage via MEDULA has been completed.           

Within the scope of infrastructural activities conducted concerning the receival of disability reports assessed by SSI in electronic media with the aim of enabling persons to familiarize with the access channels to be used while carrying out their activities and transactions to inform them of their rights and obligations regarding social security, the necessary studies have been completed and the mentioned application has been put into practice as of 17/09/2019.   

Healthcare services for the Syrians under Temporary Protection (service registration, invoice, e-Report, period termination etc.) have been processed via “Medula Hospital” application as of 01/01/2020.

The study which will enable citizens to get application and follow-up services for medicines from foreign countries via e-Government platform has been completed and carried into effect.

Studies in the Field of Information Systems and Cyber ​​Security:

Updates have been conducted for the continuance of the operability of a faster, more incessant and safer system infrastructure. (The infrastructure has been updated, server Hardware Park has been renewed, and source capacity increase has been ensured.)

Stable versions and patch updates of critical infrastructures (application servers, load distributor, application firewall, api gateway, rhn satellite systems, application and system monitoring outputs etc.) have been carried out.     

The infrastructure necessary for data to be stored as objects has been provided through object storage installations.   

Security infrastructure updates of virtualization platform have been conducted. Analysis of east-west traffic among virtual servers and operation of the necessary rules of firewall have been started.            

A new open source monitoring system has been set up by modifying the monitoring output of server system sources.

The necessary studies on the conduct of static and dynamic code analyses of institutional web applications, load and performance analyses of newly-practiced applications for their stable operation and on the safety and performance of applications such as application LDAP integration have been carried out with the aim of avoiding any infrastructural interruption in services provided for the citizens and stakeholders (Medula, Mosip etc.) and providing safe and swift service. 

Vulnerability scans of systems at the data centre of SSI have been conducted. Poc and test studies have also been conducted in order to support national and open source systems.  

Incident management system has been set up for instant following of web services owned by external stakeholders providing service for SSI and for warning the external stakeholders concerned regarding the problems encountered.

Trainings have been delivered for the personnel in charge of on-site management of provincial informatics infrastructure (Supervisor) in order to enable them to reach the required competence as a requisite of their duty regarding technological advancements and innovations.  

Disc configurations in system servers providing service for the provinces have been restructured for the purposes of performance and redundancy.

Studies conducted with certain other countries regarding secure data exchange in accordance with Bilateral Social Security Conventions have also been conducted with Bulgaria and studies for secure FTP File Sharing have been launched.

Secure FTP servers have been set up for data sharing with 7 more institutions and launched within the scope of the protocols signed with other public institutions.

Multifactor authentication has been put into practice within the scope of the study on ensuring safer external access to e-mail servers and log-in of users to e-mail system by SMS verification has been ensured.

Shared mail transitions concerning safer usage of institutional e-mail addresses used in units have been carried out and accessibility of the related addresses without password and only by authorized users has been achieved. 

b.      Changes agreed, planned or proposed for the next term:

Activities Planned in the Field of Retirement:

Military service has been divided into two parts upon alteration of the system and the durations spent in the second part will be ensured to be borrowed pursuant to the request of the person concerned and the payment will be covered by the Ministry of National Defence. Infrastructural studies necessary to ensure the referral of borrowing accruals of persons wishing to borrow the second 6-month military service period whose exemption is to be covered by the Ministry of National Defence to the Ministry in electronic media and to ensure its follow-up have been launched and these studies will have been completed by the end of 2020.

It is planned that the data concerning the employees and income/salary earners in funds within the scope of provisional Article 20 will be obtained and integrated with Scope 4/1-(a) and 4/1-(b) program.

It is planned that design and occupation rules will be transformed into written document by the end of 2020 with the aim of ensuring the conduct of income replacement programs within the scope of 4/1-(a), 4/1-(b) and 4/1-(c) via a single software.

Thanks to “e-detection program” whose software is under way, all the mechanisms involved in the process of occupational accident detection will be merged in a single program and it will be ensured that all the units involved in the process will continue, finalize and track the functioning.

“E-recourse program”, which will enable the transactions of recourse of benefits for temporary incapacity in electronic media, will be carried into effect.

The monitoring of the deductions made from the temporary incapacity benefit of the insured pursuant to his/her liability conditions in e-Government platform will be ensured.

Re-launch of “The Application Concerning Non-Employment Notification” will be ensured as a web service to facilitate the transactions of employers. 

The inclusion of Medical Board reports issued by the Ministry of Health/university hospitals in e-Disability application via MEDULA (prescription approval system) in electronic media has been completed and software studies concerning the integration of Medical Board Reports forming the basis of detections into MEDULA application of SSI via Hospital Information Management System have been finalized. Integration studies to be conducted by Healthcare Service Providers for the transmittal of medical board reports issued on behalf of SSI concerning the insured and their right holders from Hospital Information Management System into MEDULA are under way.     

Social Security Integration Project, which was launched as an investment project aiming at the merging of three organizations in social security field on a legal basis along with the unification of information technologies, services and infrastructures of institutions, has been gradually structured under the name “Social Security Information Management System”. Software phase has started in the mentioned Insured Registration system. Requirements and design studies in the demand management system which consists of the “Pension and Payments” components, have been completed. It is planned to receive consultancy and supervisory services for the main work of the Social Security Integration Project (BİYÖS Phase-1). Within this scope, technical specifications and contract studies have been completed.    

Activities Planned in the Field of Health:

Contract process of users of hospital, pharmacy, optical, medical market and medical pharmacy is planned to be transferred to electronic media. Thus, contract period will be shortened, the workload at central directorates will be reduced and the archive (storage) problem will be eliminated by keeping the documents as the basis of contract. The application is planned to be realized by the end of 2020.

It is planned to provide the online collection and follow-up of application fees and dues after the agreement of the users of hospitals, pharmacy, optics, medical market / medical pharmacy and medical companies with SSI. In this way, it will be ensured that the applications and dues are paid on time and the receivables of the corporation will be taken under control more quickly. The application is planned to be realized by the end of 2020.

The implementation of reminding the insured persons with a report concerning Celiac and Metabolism Disease of the expiration date of the report 1 month in advance with SMS will be realized as of June 2020.

Losses encountered/likely to be encountered will be prevented by precluding improper registries upon ensuring e-signed conduct of period termination procedures concerning all Healthcare Service Providers on contract with SSI.  

Activities Planned in the field of Information Systems and Cyber ​​Security:

Hardware infrastructure updates will be conducted in the light of source capacity requirement concerning virtualization platform.

Studies will be carried out within the scope of Disaster Recovery Centre (FKM)/Work Continuity.

Infrastructure test studies will be carried out within the scope of transition to container architecture and transition to Devops.

Continuity of studies as regards tightening security and optimization will be ensured.

Varied technologies for application monitoring systems, application servers and operating systems will be put to test. Studies concerning renewal procedures of system servers whose period of redemption has expired will be carried out.

Capacity increase in backup infrastructure will be ensured.

Licence renewal procedures of critical systems whose licence periods have expired will be conducted.

Studies will be carried out to ensure current and stable version updates in all systems.

c.       Completed or initiated research (Evaluations included):

Activities Planned in the field of Retirement:

Almost 1.000 reimbursed reports on sick leave (or archived in the system without reimbursement) have been examined in detail and a report has been issued concerning improper payments likely to arise from the system.

Studies in the field of Information Systems and Cyber Security:

PublicNet (Virtual Public Network) which has been set up in accordance with “The Communique on the Rules and Procedures as regards Connecting to PublicNet Network and Control of PublicNet Network” dated 21/06/2017 enables the data communication whose content safety is ensured by public institutions and organizations to be established via a safer virtual network which cannot be accessed by way of inter-institutional internet. Thus, it is aimed that cyber security risks will be minimized, standards will be established for current and future closed circuit solutions, the establishment and creation of appropriate infrastructure for common applications will be ensured, planned common data centre/centres will be included. Being the first institution to connect to PublicNet network, SSI has started to carry out inter-institutional data sharing via secure PublicNet cloud.

Database Monitoring Software, Data Leak Monitoring Software (DLP), Network Access Control Software (NAC), Cyber Operations Monitoring Software, Data Centre firewalls of north-south and east-west traffics, which are currently in use in information systems, are continuing to be used.  

The central management of institutional lines is carried out via Network Management Software. The notification of network failures occurring in SSI units to unit managers has been ensured by means of Network Management Software SMS Integration.

Usage of various applications such as internet output, video conference etc. without interacting with one another has been ensured via bandwidth management software.

Limitless remote access connection has been ensured via remote access infrastructure software.

5.      Training of Social Security Personnel

a.      Changes made in the reference period:

Trainings Between 01/07/2019-30/06/2020

 No.

Name of the Training

Number of

Participants

1

Training on JSF 2.3

26

2

Training on NET Package
(MCSD: Web Applications + ASP.NET Web API + WPF Application Development + WCF Service Development)

24

3

React Training

46

4

Training on Net Core

22

5

Training on Advanced Software and Architecture Development in Java Programming Language

56

6

Training on E-SGK Mobile Application

12

7

Training on Process Management and Analysis

22

8

Training on Interest Free Housing Credit

19

9

Training on Document Management System

100

10

Training on Health Economy
(Central Organization)

18

11

MOSIP Training

109

12

Training on the Law of Contracts
(Central Organization)

22

13

Training on the Practices of Checks Concerning Constructions of the Social Security Institution

(Central and Field Organization)

143

14

(Applied) Excel Training at Advanced Level

43

15

Referral, Control Inspection and Reimbursement Procedures Training for 4/1-(a) and 4/1-(b) Allocation Personnel

(Field Organization)

18

16

Training on Registration and Service Transactions of Insured Persons within the scope of 4-1/b

200

17

4th Training and Consultation Meeting of SSI Health Boards

119

18

Secure Software Development Training

29

19

Training of Supervisors
(Central and Field Organization)

212

20

Personal Development and Legislation Training

228

21

Training on Corporate Innovation and Decision-Making in Public Administration
(Central Organization)

20

22

Health Boards- Physician and Administrative Staff Legislation Information 2nd Half Year Meeting

190

23

5510 4/a and 4/b General Legislation Training on Registration and Allocation of Insured Persons

97

24

Training on Medium-Level Excel
(Central Organization)

17

25

Training on News Photography and Social Media and News Editing Techniques

105

26

Advanced Software and Architecture Development Training

56

27

(Applied) Excel Training at Advanced Level

19

28

Project Management (Agile Scrum) Training

37

29

Training on Duties-Proceedings of Social Security Inspectors

1732

30

Short Term Insurance Legislation and Application Training

80

31

Training on Duties-Proceedings of Support Services

106

32

Short Term Insurance Legislation and Application Training

494

33

Application Training on MOSİP Menus
(Central and Field Organization)

435

34

Training on Legislation of Entitlement and Registration of Universal Health Insurance

300

35

Training on General Information on Document Management System (DYS), Operating Logic of the System, Comparison of Documents Received as Paper and Documents Entered into the System via DYS, Logic of Standard File Plan

88

36

Training on Institutional Representation and Rules of Etiquette

17

37

Training on the Legislation numbered 5434 and 5510

107

38

Excel Training at Beginners’ and Medium Level
(Central Organization)

19

39

Excel Training at Advanced Level
(Central Organization)

14

40

Training on Legislation and Practices of Promotion and Support for Insurance Premium
(Field Organization)

11

41

Training on 4/a Registration Practices and Legislation

240

42

Short Term Insurance Legislation and Application Training

240

43

Training of Private Citizens Victimized by Terrorism within the Scope of the Law No. 5233

240

44

Training on Operations of E-Invalidity Software and File Scanning

240

45

Brief SSI Declaration Application and V2 Program Training

240

46

Training on Minimum Labour Practices

240

47

Training on Minimum Wage Support

240

Total number of participants

7.092

b.      Changes agreed, planned or proposed for the next term:

Trainings Planned for 01/07/2020-31/12/2020

No.

Name of the Training

Number of Participants

1

Angular Training

24

2

Training on IBM Z/OS BOOTCAMP Code: ESZ0G

10

3

Training on Actuary Mathematics 

6

4

PYTHON Training

20

5

Training on OSCP (Offensive Security Certified Professional) / Penetration Testing with Kali Linux (PWK)

10

6

Applied Excel Training at Advanced Level and Microsoft Excel VBA (Macro) Training
(Central Organization)

43

7

Training on VMware vSphere Install, Configure, Manage V6.7

5

8

Training on KONNEX (KNX)

7

9

Training on Java Programming Language (Medium and Advanced Level)

20

10

Jazz Team Server Administrator Training

5

11

Training on Setting Up “End To End(E2e)” Test Automation Systems for Major Projects

10

12

Training on Requirement Management and IBM Rational Doors Next Generation

40

13

Training on Db2 12 for z/OS Basic Database Administration Code: CV844G

10

14

Training on Db2 12 for zOS Advanced Database Administration Code: CV880G

10

15

Training on IP Telephone Management

10

16

Training on zOS JCL and Utilities (Code ES07G)

8

17

React Training

20

18

Training on Agile Project Management and Scrum Master

12

19

Training on Spring – Hibernate

20

20

Training on Rules for Formal Correspondence and Grammar

126

21

Training on Duties and Proceedings of Head Department of MOSIP System Expenditure Accounting

70

22

Training on Data Analysis and Basic Training on Data Mining in “R” Programming Language

20

23

Training on Techniques, Procedures and Principles regarding the Preparation of Protocols/Agreements

30

24

Training on Legal Analysis of  Information Systems

10

25

Training on Regulatory Impact Analysis

20

26

Training on Current Legislation

25

27

Training on Agricultural Deductions, E-Deduction Program, Erroneous Payments

240

28

Training on Invalidity of Official

126

29

Training on Dynamic Web Applications by Spring Boot

24

30

Training on Network Traffic Analysis

10

31

Training on Negotiation Techniques

15

32

Training on Medium Voltage System Design and Electricity Infrastructure

7

33

Training on Data Mining Applications by SAS Program

10

34

PMP (Project Management Professional) Training

20

35

DevOps Training

40

36

Training on z/OS System Programmer Fundamentals
(Code ES40G)

8

37

Training on Preparations for Public Servants Allocations

200

38

Training on Public Servants HITAP (Service Tracking Program) and IPC Applications

200

39

Institutional Coordination Training
(Central Organization)

70

40

Training on Duties and Proceedings of MOSIP Expenditure Accounting

70

41

Biostatistics Training

15

42

Training on Ethics and Principles of Ethical Conduct in Public Administration

240

Total number of participants

1.886

6.      Information Provided to the Right Holders and Other Services

Family, Labour and Social Services Call Centre “Alo 170”:

The objectives of ALO 170 (Hotline) Communication Centre are as follows:

The Prime Ministry Circular No. 2011/2 entered into force by being published in the Official Gazette dated 19.03.2011, No. 27879 within the scope of preventing Mobbing in Workplaces. ALO 170 Hotline is the first and only call centre providing support about “mobbing” in Turkey.

“Alo 170 Family, Labour and Social Services Communication Centre” was first established as the Unregistered Employment Hotline to provide service during working hours with the work team consisting of the employees of the Institution in Ankara in 2008. The Centre was transformed into a common and comprehensive communication centre, with the Ministry of Family, Labour and Social Services, Turkish Employment Agency (İŞKUR) and the Social Security Institution (SSI) providing service on a 24/7 basis.

ALO 170 Family, Labour and Social Services Communication Centre provides call services nationwide from ten locations: Karaman, Şanlıurfa, Sivas, Kütahya, Ankara, Trabzon, Bayburt, Zonguldak, Muş and Elazığ with 1.567 employees.

Within the scope of more than fifty thousand pages of legislation relevant to the Ministry of Family, Labour and Social Services, Turkish Employment Agency (İŞKUR), Social Security Institution (SSI) and Vocational Qualifications Authority (MYK), ALO 170 provide service on a 24/7 basis to our citizens living in Turkey and abroad. ALO 170 Hotline, which can be dialled from Turkey and from any other place in the world, responds to the calls of citizens in about 3 seconds, and receives an average of 48.500 calls per day, is the largest and the most far-reaching communication centre. 89 million 630 thousand calls have been received by ALO 170 Hotline, beginning from the day of its opening until 15.04.2019.

ALO 170 Family, Labour and Social Services Communication Centre, 30% of whose workforce comprises the disabled, over 50% women, and 15% veterans and the relatives of martyrs and veterans, as well as other disadvantaged groups, is considered one of the largest Public Social Responsibility projects in Turkey. According to the research of an independent survey company, the Ministry of Family, Labour and Social Services, Turkish Employment Agency (İŞKUR), and Social Security Institution (SSI), which have conducted this major social project, have achieved a citizen satisfaction rate of 94.8% due to their effective, transparent, fast and citizen-focused work.

93.926 applications in total about mobbing practices were received between 19/03/2011 and 29/02/2020. In 2019, calls about mobbing decreased by 11% compared to the previous year with 16.703 applications. 2.843 applications have been made in 2020 (until 29 February 2020). The sectoral distribution of the applications was as follows: The highest number of applications about mobbing in the public sector was made as applications for notification and psychological support (58,04%) without declaring an institution. Of the applicants working in public administration, 52% of the applicants are male and 48% are female. In the private sector, without specifying the sector, the highest rate of calls has been taken from industrial enterprises (6,26%) as informing psychological support application. 58% of the applicants from the private sector are male and 42% are female.

Around 3 million impaired hearing citizens are served via the number “0850 222 7 170”. A total number of 15.093 calls were made by disabled persons until 29 February 2020.

The web chat service is provided on the channel “http://www.alo170.gov.tr/”. Citizens have access to ALO 170 Hotline by using this service channel 24/7. The Social Media (Facebook, Twitter etc.) is regularly scanned for content relating to MoFLSS, SSI and İŞKUR by 40 Social Media Experts employed by ALO 170. A total of 5.226.336 comments in the social media were examined between 01.10.2013-29.02.2020.

Around 10 million Turkish citizens living abroad are provided service through ALO 170. The citizens abroad can reach the call centre by calling “+90 216 170 11 22”. By the end of February 2020, there were 17.268 calls from abroad. Most calls were taken from Germany, France and the Netherlands.

ALO 170 Communication Center for Family, Labour and Social Services has been awarded with the gold medal in "The Best Outsourced Business Partnership Category" in the “Contact Center World.com” competition, a medal recognized as one of the most prestigious awards of the world in this field. ALO 170, the winner of the Europe, Middle East and Africa region in the competition held in London, won the first place in "The Best Outsourced Business Partnership Category" held in Las Vegas.  ALO 170 Hotline was shown as an exemplary public project in terms of its 87% first call resolution rate and high customer satisfaction, in a competition in which world giants rival each other.

SMS Information System

In 2011, SMS Information System was initiated in order to offer active, fast and quality services, to give information about provision, premium debts and collection of employers and insured workers, to improve satisfaction of citizens, to force the services, prevent time and labour losses and reduce postal costs for correspondence that does not require notification within the framework of citizen-oriented service

a. Changes made in the reference period:

SSI (Social Security Institution) website (www.sgk.gov.tr) is an important platform that offers information and service for all the shareholders. The website, which is one of the most visited public websites of Turkey, has been visited by a total number of 8 million people from July 2019 to the first quarter of 2020.

“Radio 1” and “The Voice of Meteorology” which broadcast nationally to raise consciousness of social security, premium payment and create awareness gives information to the public every week about legislation of the Social Security Institution (SSI) through specialist guests. Totally, 78 radio programmes were transmitted from July 2019 to the first quarter of 2020.

Again, for raising consciousness of social security and premium payment, totally 135 programmes including “We are addressing a problem”, “News”, trailer and teaser works were broadcasted on “SSI TV” a web TV platform from July 2019 to the first quarter of 2020.

Within the scope of informing the beneficiaries, public service announcements were broadcasted to introduce projects “Supporting Registered Employment of Women Through Promoting Educated Child-Caregivers” (EDU-CARE) and “Supporting Registered Employment of Women through Institutional Childcare Services (INST-CARE)

On 17-19 September 2019 Netherlands Consultation Days in Istanbul, on 24-26 September 2019 Germany Consultation Days in Bremen and again on 24-26 September 2019 Germany Consultation Days in Adana were arranged. Participants in these organizations had the opportunity to meet one-to-one with SSI and the staff of the foreign country insurance institution and received consultancy services regarding insurance transactions.

b. Completed or initiated research (Evaluations included)

Studies have been initiated to expand the scope of the SMS Information System, to increase citizen registration opportunities, and to increase the use of the system by SSI personnel. Research about sending the insurance information of dependent children under the age of 18 to the responsible parent and necessary security measures regarding the issue are under way.

B. BENEFITS

1. Personal and Material Scope

Population Groups Under Social Security Scope as of December 2019 and Ratio to General Population:

December 2019

Active Insured

Pension/ Income Beneficiaries (Passive Insured)

Dependents

Total

General Population Ratio % (**)

Those Employed Under Contract (4/a)

1-Mandatory

14.314.313

8.025.769

18.685.973

42.721.744

%51,38

2-Apprentice

319.017

3-Abroad Community Insurance

21.002

4-Agriculture (4/a)

41.108

5-Other Insured (*)

232.050

6-Interns and trainees

1.082.512

Total

16.010.002

Self Employed (4/b)

1-Mandatory (except agriculture)

2.127.836

2.671.576

9.742.341

15.302.071

%18,40

2-Agriculture (4/b) (Mandatory)

600.787

3-Neighborhood Governor 

29.444

4- Voluntary

130.087

Total

2.888.154

Public Employees (4/c)

1- Mandatory

3.100.511

2.280.374

6.877.663

12.260.845

%14,74

3- Other

2.297

Total

3.102.808

TOTAL

22.000.964

12.977.719

35.305.977

70.284.660

%84,52

Private Funds

136.378

111.017

172.625

420.020

%0,51

Total (Contributory System)  

22.137.342

13.088.736

35.478.602

70.704.680

%85,03

* According to the Law No. 5510 (Annex-5, Annex-6, Annex-9) Insured persons working for less than 10 days, Prisoners and convicts employed by the Prisons and Detention Houses, and those who are suspended in public administrations. 

** According to Address Based Population Registry System results, Turkish population is 83.154.997 in 2019.

2. Update in the Amounts of Aid 

a. Changes made in the reference period:

The lower limit of the daily earning which is basis for the calculation of the allowance to be given and premiums to be received pursuant to Law No. 5510, is one thirtieth of the minimum wage, and the upper limit is 7.5 times the daily earning lower limit. However, for public workers who are considered to be insured under the scope of 4/c, the upper limit in question related to the amount of earning on which the premium is based, is not applied.

The lower limit of the daily earning between 01/01/2019-31/12/2019 was set as 85,28 TL, and the upper limit was set as 639,60 TL (85,28x7,5). The lower limit of the daily earning between 01/01/2020-31/12/2020 was set as 98,10 TL, and the upper limit has been set as 735,75 TL (98,10x7,5).

The monthly earning amounts which constitute the basis for the calculation of premiums to be collected and allowances to be given in the period examined:

Period*

Lower Limit Amount of Monthly Earning TL

Upper Limit Amount of Monthly Earning TL

Daily

Monthly

Monthly

July – December / 2019

85,28

2,558,40

639,60 x 30 = 19.188

January – June / 2020

98,10

2,943

735,75 x 30 = 22.072,50

* After 01/01/2016, the minimum wage has been started to be implemented so as to be increased once a year.

The pensions and incomes allocated to the 4/a and 4/b insured persons of the Law and their beneficiaries have been paid by an increase of 5,01% in 2019/July and 6,50% in 2020/January period pursuant to the second clause of Article 55 of Law No. 5510. 

Similarly, the pensions and revenues which were allocated to 4/1-(c) insured people and their beneficiaries are increased by the coefficients determined pursuant to the provisions under Articles 5th Term Collective Agreement that covers years 2020 and 2021 on Financial and Social Rights Regarding Public Workers in General and by Service Branches.  

Salary and basic salary coefficients applied for 4/1-(c) insurance holders according to certain periods:

Period

Civil Servant Salary Coefficients

Basic Salary Coefficient

July – December / 2019

0,138459

2,167248

January – June /2020

0,146061

2,28624

At the end of 5th collective agreement negotiations held for years covering 2020 and 2021, ratios of salary coefficient and official duty basic coefficient to be applied for converting the figures shown in monthly indicator table as well as the figures in the additional indicator and seniority indicator tables into monthly salary amounts were decided to increase by 4% in the first six month period and 4% in the second six month period for 2020 and 3% in the first six monthly period and 3% in the second six monthly period for 2021 in compliance with the Article 154 of Civil Servants Act No. 657.

On the other hand, it was also decided to increase the aforementioned coefficients consistent with the Consumer Prices Index (TUFE) announced by Turkish Statistics Institution (TURKSTAT) under Article 7 “payment of inflation difference” of the Collective Agreement.

In this context, 6,02% increase in the second six-month period of 2019 and 5,49% in the first six-month period of 2020 would be applied for the retired public officers’ pensions who are the insurance holders of the 4/c of the Law No. 5510.

The minimum and maximum civil servant (4/c) salaries defined according to coefficients applied in the period.

Period

Minimum  Salary (TL)

Maximum Salary (TL)*

July – December / 2019

2.689,22

10.182,76

January – June /2020

2.827,71

10.732,78

(*) These salaries are calculated basing on the highest public official with a 25 year of service (Head of Administrative Affairs Directorate of the Presidency). Salaries include the additional payment and 1/12 of Bayram (religious feast) bonus which is 2.000TL. 


II. HEALTH BENEFITS

Population groups within the context of health benefits covered by Health Insurance as of December 2019:

Population Groups

Number

2019 December

Those Employed Under Employment Contract (4/a)

Insured persons

16.010.002

Pension and Income Receivers

8.025.769

Family Members

18.685.973

Total

42.721.744

Self-Employed (4/b)

Insured persons

2.888.154

Pension and Income Receivers

2.671.576

Family Members

9.742.341

Total

15.302.071

Civil Servants (4/c)

Insured Persons

3.102.808

Pension and Income Receivers

2.280.374

Family Members

6.877.663

Total

12,260.845

Private Funds (*)

Insured Persons

136.378

Pension and Income Receivers

111.017

Family Members

172.625

Total

420.020

Registered within the scope of General Health Insurance

Total

11.473.608

TOTAL

82.178.288

(*) Health benefits of these are covered by the foundation pension funds to which they are affiliated, rather than the Social Security Institution.

According to TURKSTAT, Turkey’s population reached 83.154.997 in 2019 according to the Address Based Population Registry System. The number of people under health insurance scheme in the same year is recorded as 82.178.288 which constitutes %98,5 of the entire population. Health benefits required for those who falls behind the coverage are provided by various public Institutions.

a.      Changes made in the reference period:

Social Security Institution Health Implementation Communiqué

§  The following regulations were made in the Social Security Institution Health Implementation Communiqué published in the Official Gazette no 30878 dated 04/09/2019:

-          Arrangements have been made in order to prevent the problems encountered in billing of the swallowing rehabilitation in the pulmonary rehabilitation procedure in the communiqué.

-          When intensive care treatments are invoiced from the Communiqué Annex-2 / C List, blood products are included in the transaction score.

-          In the SUT supplement Annex-2 / B List, the payment codes of the “diagnostic with the thyroid up-take study and the whole body scanning” procedures applied in the field of Nuclear Medicine are arranged.

-          In the ophthalmology branch, it is aimed to provide more efficient and high quality health services provided to the general health insurance holders and their dependents in private healthcare providers contracted with SSI.

-          A regulation has been made regarding the procedures for determining the daily quota calculated for contracted physicians in the health services of the ophthalmology branch provided by private healthcare service providers with a contract / protocol with the institution. Arrangements were made to determine the total number to be performed in healthcare providers in some eye procedures such as endoscopic dacryocystorhinostomy (DCR), surgical intervention for Ectropium, surgical intervention for entropium tear tract intubation.

-          Arrangements have been made in the Communiqué Annex-2 / B list in order to solve the problems encountered in the implementation of the sweat test procedure and the supply of medicines, and to prevent patient suffering.

§  The following regulations were made in the Social Security Institution Health Implementation Communiqué published in the Official Gazette no 30913 dated 09/10/2019:

-          For the services provided to our citizens in eye health, a reorganization was made in order to provide better quality of the health service as the surgical procedures applied by taking the patient examination time into consideration are sensitive procedures.

§  The following arrangements were made in the reference period in the Social Security Institution Health Implementation Communiqué, which was published in the Official Gazette no 28597 dated 24/03/2013:

-          Arrangements were made in order to prevent abuse of drugs involve Pregabalin and Gabapentin active ingredients.

-          An arrangement was made in relation to usage of antivirals used in the treatment in Hepatitis B.

-          MEDULA application used for providing insulin shot was arranged.

-          The duration of reports for protein metabolism disorder was increased to 3 years.

-          The report and prescription arrangements of drugs include Clopidogrel, Dabigatran, Rivaroxaban Edoxaban, Apixaban and Prasugrel active substance were updated.

-          Rules of interrupting treatment and using high doses on Gaucher patients have been regulated.

-          An arrangement was made for the gradual use of drugs include Bortezomib, Lenalidomide and Ixazomib active ingredients.

-          Arrangements were made for sequential use of drugs include Cabazitaxel, Enzalutamide and Abirateron active ingredients.

-          Arrangements were made for the use of growth hormone.

-          An arrangement was made for the acceptance of Beta interferons, glatiramer acetate, teriflunomide or dimethyl fumarate as first-line treatment in Multiple Sclerosis disease.

-          Immune Tolerance Therapy was arranged in Hemophilia A with Inhibitor patients.

-          The duration of medical report for celiac patients were extended to 3 years.

-          The duration of medical report for osteoporosis patients were extended to 2 years.

-          Regulations were made in the use of antifungals.

-          The duration of medical report of patients receiving enzyme therapy was expanded to 1 year.

§  The following arrangements were made in the Social Security Institution Health Implementation Communiqué published in the Official Gazette no 31005 dated 11/01/2020: 

-          For the biochemistry process codes in the Health Implementation Communiqué (SUT) annex Annex-2 / B list, each test was defined to have both a national and international identity, and standardization was achieved in the data.

-          Within the framework of efforts of the Ministry to combat substance addiction, which is on the agenda as a very sensitive issue, new operation codes were defined under the title of "Illegal and Abused Drug Analyzes", and separate codes were determined for screening and verification analysis items in order to make laboratory services for addiction treatment more effective.

-          For persons receiving addiction treatment, "Family interview-evaluation", “Individual psychotherapy”, “Group psychotherapy” Medical Rehabilitation Services in the Health Implementation Communiqué were increased and paid.

§  The following arrangements were made in the Social Security Institution Health Implementation Communiqué (SUT) published in the Official Gazette no 31057 (Repeating) dated 03/03/2020: 

-          For the first time since 2008, the prices of all transactions in SUT have increased. Increasing the prices paid for health services has contributed to the access of a higher quality healthcare service for our citizens and the sustainability of healthcare services for healthcare facilities that offer healthcare services.

-          Prices of all 9,047 transactions included in SUT annex list were improved at the rate of 10% and %25. (Such as laboratory procedures, radio imaging tests, nuclear medicine procedures, blood components, surgical procedures, physical therapy and rehabilitation procedures, dialysis treatments, hyperbaric oxygen treatments, intensive care treatments)

-          Dentist examination and dental treatment fees increased at the rate of 30%.

-          In the Outpatient Applications, outpatient examination fees included in the Payment List (Annex-2 / A) were improved at the rate of 30% for University Hospitals and Ministry of Health Education Research Hospitals, and 10% for other 11 healthcare providers in the same list (state hospitals, branch hospitals, private hospitals, medical center, private branch hospitals affiliated to the Ministry of Health).

-          Advanced examination, analysis, treatment services and specific surgeries are also performed in tertiary health service providers. Additional rate paid at the rate of 10% for transactions with an (*) sign in the Annex-2 / C Diagnostic Procedure Score List of SUT was arranged as 20% for the Institution and tertiary healthcare providers with a contract/ protocol including foundation universities.

-          An increase was made at the rate of 20% above the average for 421 transactions in which no additional payment is made.

-          There are 465 special operations on the List of ANNEX 2-/C-1 Operation to be Applied with Additional Rate. While additional rates of 10% to 55% were applied to the procedures in this list, with this regulation, additional rates were increased 10 points for 459 procedures and 20 points for 6 intensive care treatment procedures.

§  The following arrangements regarding the pandemic were made in the Social Security Institution Health Implementation Communiqué published in the Official Gazette no 31089 dated 04/04/2020:

-          Care services to be provided in intensive care units are included in the reimbursement scope. For all patients hospitalized in intensive care units during the pandemic, care service fee equal to the intensive care step treatment fees were provided. Thus, the amounts paid for intensive care treatments were doubled and support was provided to both persons and healthcare providers during the epidemic period.

-          During the pandemic process, "care services" transaction codes were defined for all healthcare providers, including private healthcare providers, and included in the reimbursement scope.

-          For the COVID-19 epidemic, which is very easily and rapidly transmitted from person to person, a significant support has been given to the sustainability of health service providers in one aspect of the pandemic struggle by ensuring that persons receive healthcare services in a high quality, providing care services and protecting health professionals who provide care services.

-          Upon the World Health Organization (WHO) stated that immune plasma therapy is one of the most recommended potential treatments against the COVID-19 pandemic, a new transaction code called "immune plasma supply and application" was set for the purpose of using antibodies from the serum of people who have recovered from coronavirus infection in Turkey.

§  The following arrangements were made in the Social Security Institution Health Implementation Communiqué published in the Official Gazette no 31094 dated 09/04/2020:

-          Diagnosis and treatment services provided to pandemic cases during the pandemic were accepted as emergency health services. Thus, patient share was not taken from the patients in pandemic events considered as emergency cases.

-          The phrase of “Diagnosis and treatment of pandemic cases during the pandemic” was added to the part with the headline "Health services at no extra charge" in SUT and additional fees were not collected from people diagnosed with COVID-19.

-          An arrangement has been made to invoice intravenous forms of drugs with ATC code "L04AC07" separately in intensive care treatment for the patients diagnosed with COVID- 19 who receive intensive care treatment.

Public Health Service Providers:

·         A service procurement contract has been signed with the Ministry of Health over the "Lump Sum Payment" for 2019, and an additional budget was provided with the addendum made in December 2019.

·         For 2019, 43 state universities have signed the "Health Service Procurement Contract over Lump Sum Price" and entered into force. In addition, a revision was made for 43 state universities in the Additional Budget for 2019 and within the framework of the "Supplementary Agreement and Principles of Procedure" signed by the parties, started to be paid from October, 2019. The contracts of 43 state universities were renewed in March 2020, and an additional contract was signed with "Supplementary Contract and Procedures-1" in April 2020.

·         For 2019, “Health Service Procurement Contract over Lump Sum Price” was signed with Inayet Topcuoglu Hospital affiliated to Gaziantep Metropolitan Municipality.

·         Existing health service procurement contracts with 11 municipal healthcare providers are ongoing.

·         A protocol was signed with the Ministry of Family, Labour and Social Services Darülaceze Presidency Medical Center being effective from 01/03/2020.

·         The "Social Security Institution / Health Sciences University Ankara Gülhane Dentistry Health Practice and Research Center Health Services Protocol" has been signed with Health Sciences University Ankara Gülhane Dentistry Health Application and Research Center, effective as of 30.07.2019.

·         The protocols previously signed with 13 foundation universities and 7 private health service providers affiliated to foundation universities are already in force.

·         The "Health Services Protocol" signed with the Near East University with a health service purchase contract on "Partial Branch / Health Service" signed with Yeditepe University and TOBB ETU is still in force.

Private Health Service Providers:

·         “Contract of Purchasing Health Service from Social Security Institution Social Service Providers Year 2018” published on 19/01/2018 was in force in 2019 and still continues for 2020.

TEB Protocol / Pharmacy Contracts:

·         The “Protocol on Drug Supply from Pharmacies Member of Turkish Pharmacists Association of Persons under the Social Security Institution” was signed on 01/04/2016 for 2 + 2 = 4 years and 2017/1, 2018/1, 2019/1 protocol revisions were made in line with the relevant provision of the Protocol.

·         The protocol is still in force and an Additional Protocol 2020/1 was signed on 03/04/2020.

Medical Device Protocol / Contracts:

·         “Contract for Ready to Use Medical Material for Outpatient Treatment”,

·         “Contract for Visual Supportive Medical Material”,

·         “Contract for Procurement of Tailor-Made Prosthetics and Orthotics between Social Security Institution and Official Health Institutions”,

·         “Contract for the Supply of Hearing Aids”,

·         “Protocol Between Social Security Institution and Health Sciences University on Procurement of Personalized 3D Design and Production Devices”,

·         “Protocol Between the Social Security Institution and the Ministry of Health on the ‘Procurement of All Kinds of Orthotics / Prosthetics and Other Healing Tools and Equipment for Veterans”,

have continued in 2019 and will continue in 2020.

b.      Changes agreed, planned or proposed for the next term:

New transaction codes will be defined in a way to include direction from the appropriate transaction codes in Annex-2B Per Service Transaction Score List and Annex-2 / C Diagnosis Based Transaction Score List in the Annex of Health Implementation Communique. Thus, in order to use the health service effectively and efficiently, it is planned that the invoicing of the actual transaction made to the patient will contribute to the sustainability of the universal health insurance system by preventing duplication by obtaining accurate statistical data.

It is planned to make a "Contract for Prosthetic Orthosis Procurement Between Tailored Prosthetics and Orthotics Centers" with the private sector.

It is planned to complete the “Regulation on Procedures and Principles Regarding Income Determination, Registration and Monitoring Process within the Scope of General Health Insurance” including the issues regarding how the income test procedures of those deemed to be general health insurance holders within the scope of sub-clause (g) of the first paragraph of Article 60 of Law No. 5510 due to having no social security will be carried out to enable them to benefit from health services by covering general health insurance premiums by the Treasury.


III. SICKNESS BENEFITS

a. Changes made in the reference period:

Temporary incapacity benefit is a benefit to cover income losses in days when the insured cannot work in cases of work accident, occupational disease, illness and maternity. With the Law No. 5510, for the first time, insured persons working on their own behalf are included in the scope of work accident, occupational disease and maternity insurance. With this law, these persons were granted the opportunity to receive the incapacity allowance during inpatient treatment due to work accident and occupational disease and also before and after giving birth, covered by the maternity insurance.

On the other hand, public employees are not covered by sickness benefits, as they continue to receive their pensions during the period of sickness.        

The amounts of temporary incapacity benefit given to the insured who have been subject to temporary incapacity from sickness insurance in 2019 and 2020 are shown in the table below:

Term

Amount in Inpatient Treatment  (TL)

Amount in Outpatient Treatment  (TL)

Minimum Amount

Maximum Amount

Minimum Amount

Maximum Amount

July-December /2019

85,28x1/2=42,64

639,60x1/2=319,80

85,28x2/3=56,85

639,60x2/3 =426,40

January- June /2020

98,10x1/2=49,05

735,75x1/2=367,87

98,10x2/3=65,40

735,87 x2/3 =490,50

b. Completed or initiated research (Evaluations included):

The study of 500 rest reports, which received temporary incapacity allowance for 6 months or more in a calendar year, and the preparation of report regarding the situation will be completed in 2020.

500 reports with payment through e-Allowance application, by which the insured's earnings subject to premium are declared higher than the actual incapacity payment in order get a higher amount of allowance according to Law No. 5510, will be analysed and the results obtained will be reported.

IV. UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS

Not accepted.


V. OLD-AGE BENEFITS

a. Changes made in the reference period:

Old-age pensions paid within the scope, Articles 4 / 1- (a) and 4 / 1- (b) of Law No. 5510, have been increased at the rate of 5.01% in the 2019 / July payment period and 6.5% to be effective from the payment period of 2020 / January, in accordance with Article 55 of the Law.

Old-age pensions paid within the scope of 4 / 1- (c) of the Law No. 5510 have been increased by 6.02% being valid in the second six months of 2019, and 5.49% being valid in the first six months of 2020.

Total number of those protected in terms of old-age benefits as of the end of 2019 and those put on pension within the year and those receiving pension are shown in the table below:

Insured Status

Those put on pension within the year

Total number of those receiving old-age pension

Those Employed Under Service Contract (4/1-a)* :  14.608.473

281.343

5.759.778

Self-Employed (4/1-b):    

2.888.154

42.444

1.672.986

Civil servants/Contributors (4/1-(c)):   

3.102.808

59.538

1.535.698

(*) Covers Compulsory, Voluntary, Agriculture and Community Insurances.

VI. OCCUPATIONAL ACCIDENTS AND DISEASES BENEFITS

a.      Changes made in the reference period:

The number of those protected in terms of occupational accidents and diseases as of the end of 2019 and those receiving temporary incapacity allowances due to occupational accidents and diseases occurred within the year and the amounts are shown in the table below:

Number of those protected

Number of persons receiving temporary incapacity allowance

Total (TL)

Those Employed Under Service Contract

(4/1-a)*: 14.654.332                                        

402.681

342.557.277

Self-Employed (4/1-b): 2.888.154

163

299.105

 (*) Compulsory insured, apprentices and those insured within the scope of 5(g).

Total number of those protected in terms of occupational accidents and diseases as of the end of 2019, those put on permanent incapacity income due to occupational accidents and diseases occurred within the year and their beneficiaries (their widows and orphans):

Number of those protected

Number of persons fall in the scope of permanent incapacity during the year

Total Number of Those Getting Permanent Incapacity Income

Beneficiaries Put on Salary Within the Year

Total Number of Beneficiaries Put on Benefits

Those Employed Under Service Contract (4/1-a)*:

15.756.950

4.740

78.917

4.499

95.133

Self-Employed (4/1-b):                  

2.758.067

52

292

115

1.141

(*) Covers compulsory and agricultural insured persons, apprentices and trainees.

Total number of those (for the insured in the category of 4/1-c) protected in terms of duty disability on grounds of occupational accidents and diseases as of the end of 2019, those put on duty disability income due to occupational accidents and diseases occurred within the year are shown in the table below:

Those insured who have become duty disabled within the year

Total number of those getting duty disability income

Disabled on Duty

(Those put on income during year)

298

14.039

b.      Amounts of payment in the reference period:

Daily lower and upper limits of temporary incapacity allowance related to work accident and occupational disease during the period are shown in the table below:

Period

Amount in Inpatient Treatment  (TL)

Amount in Outpatient Treatment  (TL)

Minimum Amount

Maximum Amount

Minimum

Amount

Maximum

Amount

July-December /2019

42,64

319,80

56,85

426,40

January-June /2020

49,05

367,87

65,40

490,50

The upper-limit of occupational accidents and diseases income for the insured persons, in accordance with the Law No. 5510 is as below:

Period

Permanent Incapacity Income

Upper-limit (TL)

01/07/2019-31/12/2019

639,60 x 21 = 13.431,60

01/01/2020-30/06/2020

735,75 x 21 = 15.450,75

According to Law No. 5510, the lower limit of occupational accidents and diseases income for the insured persons in need of continuous care of another person is shown in the table below:

Period

Permanent Incapacity Income

Lower-limit (TL)

01/07/2019-31/12/2019

85,28 x 30 x %85 = 2.174,64

01/01/2020-30/06/2020

98,10 x 30 x %85 = 2.501,55

VII. FAMILY BENEFITS

Not accepted.

VIII. MATERNITY BENEFITS

a.      Changes in the Reference Period:

Daily upper and lower limits of temporary incapacity allowance for the related period are as follows:

Period

Amount in Inpatient Treatment (TL)

Amount in Outpatient Treatment  (TL)

Minimum Amount

Maximum Amount

Minimum Amount

Maximum Amount

July - December /2019

42,64

319,80

56,85

426,40

January - June /2020

49,05

367,87

65,40

490,50

As of the end of 2019, in terms of maternity benefits, the number of persons receiving temporary incapacity income and amount of temporary incapacity benefit are given in the table below:

Covered for the Period of December 2019

Number of persons getting temporary incapacity allowance

Total (TL)

Those Employed Under Service Contract (4/1-a)*                                                      

410.106

1.402.897.505

Self-Employed (4/1-b)**

8.984

26.141.129

Nursing benefit, which was 180 TL in 2019, was updated to 202 TL for 2020.

IX- INVALIDITY BENEFITS

a. Changes in the reference period:

Invalidity pensions that are paid within the scope of 4/1-(a) and 4/1-(b) of the Law No. 5510 have been increased at the rate of 5,1% in the period of 2019/July and 6,5% being valid from the payment period of 2020/January under Article 55 of the Law.

Invalidity pensions that are paid within the scope of 4/1-(c) of the Law No. 5510 have been increased at the rate of 6.2% being valid from the second six months of 2019 and 5.49% being valid from the first six months of 2020.

Total number of those protected as of the end of 2019 in terms of invalidity insurance, those put on invalidity pension and receiving invalidity pension within the year are as below:

Number of those protected

Those put on invalidity pension within the year

Total number of those receiving invalidity pension

Those Employed Under Service Contract 4/1-(a):*     14.608.473

7.229

77.752

Self-Employed 4/1-(b):                      

2.888.154

2.451

22.542

Civil servants 4/1-(c):                      

3.102.808

850

26.653

(*) Covers Compulsory, Voluntary, Agricultural and Community Insured.

X- SURVIVORS’ BENEFIT

a. Changes in the reference period:

Survivors’ benefits that are paid within the scope of 4/1-(a) and 4/1-(b) have been increased at the rate of 5,1% in the payment period of 2019/July and 6,5% being valid from the payment period of 2020/January under Article 55 of the Invalidity Pensions Law.

The widow and orphan pensions paid within the scope of 4/1-(c) of the Law No.5510 have been increased at the rate of 6.02% being valid in the second six months of 2019 and 5.49% being valid in the first six months of 2020.

Total number of those covered as of the end of 2019, those put on survivors’ pension and receiving survivors’ pension within the year are shown in the table below

Number of those protected

Those put on survivors’ pension within the year

Total number of those receiving right holder’s pension

Those Employed Under Service Contract

(4/1-a):* 14.608.473

119.996

2.014.189

Self-Employed (4/1-b): 2.888.154

65.916

974.615

Civil servants (4/1-c): 3.102.808

31.696

703.984

(*) Covers Compulsory, Voluntary, Agricultural and Community Insured.

b.      Changes agreed, planned or proposed for the next term:

It is planned to transfer approximately 2.200.000 survivors’ benefit files of which transactions are carried out by the General Directorate of Pension Services to Provincial Directorates of Social Security in order to complete the operations faster, more efficient and on site.

c. Amounts of payment during the reference period:

There has been no change in the rates of distribution of the salary of the deceased insured, which is calculated according to the provisions of the Law during the reference period. Developments concerning the amounts of salary during this period are given below:

Amounts of minimum salaries during the reference period for the beneficiaries (covered by the Law No. 506, Article 4/a) are as below:

Period

Rate of Increase

Single Person

80%

TL

One Spouse

60%

TL

One Child

30%

TL

July-December 2019

%5,01

1.590,53

1.165,63

582,86

January-June 2020

%6,49

1.693,91

1.241,40

620,75

Amounts of minimum salaries for the beneficiaries (for 4/a insured) from survivors insurance in case they had service before 2000 during the reference period are as below:

Period

Rate of Increase

Single Person

80% (TL)

One Spouse

60%  (TL)

One Child

%30 (TL)

July-December 2019

%5,01

1.592,88

1.166,43

583,24

January-June 2020

%6,49

1.696,42

1.242,25

  621,15

Amounts of minimum salaries for the beneficiaries from survivors’ insurance in case they had service only after the year 2000 during the reference period are as below:

Period

Rate of Increase

Single Person

80% (TL)

One Spouse

60% (TL)

One Child

%30 (TL)

July-December 2019

%5,01

940,27

705,17

352,62

January-June 2020

%6,49

1.001,39

751,01

375,54

In addition, according to the Law No. 5510 and the Laws No. 506, 1479, 2925 and 2926 repealed by this Law, additional payments were calculated according to monthly pension and income amounts paid each month as explained below:

·         The second half of 2019:

-          5% of monthly pension and income amounts for those with less than 1.298.49 TL (included) of income

-          4% of monthly pension and income amounts for those with more than 1.298.49 TL of income

·         First six months of 2020:

-          5% of monthly pension and income amounts for those with less than 1.369,78 TL (included) of income

-          4% of monthly pension and income amounts for those with more than 1.369,78 TL of income

On the other hand, according to the Laws No. 1479, 506, 2925, 2926, 5434 and 5510; the orphans who are receiving survivor's pension due to being invalid because of the deceased insured, can benefit from Article 2 of the Law No. 2022 in case they lose their working capacity;

-          at a rate of 70% or more (disabled, not being unable to continue his/her life without the help of another person),

-          between 40% and 69% (disabled)

In case the total amount of income and pension received by the children with disability over 70% and more, is below the amounts mentioned below, they get additional benefit equal to the difference;

-          for the period of 01/07/2019-31/12/2019                  5253 x 0,138459 = 727,33TL

-          for the period 01/01/2020-30/06/2020                      5253 x 0,146061  =  767,26 TL

In case the total amount of income and pension received by the children with disability between 40% and 69%, is below the amounts mentioned below, they get additional benefit equal to the difference,

-          for the period 01/07/2019-31/12/2019                      3502 x 0,138459 = 484,88 TL

-          for the period 01/01/2020-30/06/2020                      3502 x 0,146061 = 511,51 TL

The amount of lower limit of pensions for widows and orphans during the period (for 4/1-c insured):

Period

For three or more people (TL)

For two people (TL)

For one person (TL)

July-December 2019

2.425,54

2.182,98

1.940,43

January-June 2020

2.558,71

2.302,84

2.046,97

The amount of funeral allowance:

The amount of funeral allowance determined by the Board of the SSI paid during the reference period (4/1-a ve 4/1-b) are shown in the table below:

Period

The amount of funeral allowance (TL)

July-December /2019

716

January-June /2020

801

Minimum death benefit amount applied during the period (4/1-c insured):

Period

Amount of benefit determined by current coefficient and additional indicators (TL)

July-December /2019

2.630,72

January-June /2020

2.775,15


XI- FINANCING

According to the Law No. 5510, contribution is taken over the rates determined on the basis of the total earnings subject to contribution for the insurance branches as below:

Insurance Branches

Insured Groups

Premium Rate

Worker’s Share

Employer’s Share

Total

Public Share

Self-employed rate

Short-term Insurance Branches

Work Accident, Occupational disease, Illness, Maternity

Workers-4/1-(a)

 -

2 %

2 %

 -

Civil servants-4/1-(c)

-

Special Arrangement

Self-Employed-4/1-(b)

2 %

2 %

 -

Long-term Insurance Branches

Invalidity, Old-age and Survivors Insurance

Workers -4/1-(a)

9 %

11 %

20 %

 -

Civil servants-4/1-(c)

9 %

11 %

 -

Self-Employed -4/1-(b)

20 %

 -

General Health Insurance

Workers -4/1-(a)

5 %

7.5 %

12.5 %

 -

Civil servants-4/1-(c)

5 %

7.5 %

 -

Self-Employed -4/1-(b)

12.5 %

 -

Unemployment Insurance

Workers -4/1-(a)

1 %

2 %

4 %

1%

Civil servants-4/1-(c)

Out of coverage

Self-Employed -4/1-(b)

Out of coverage

TOTAL PREMIUM

Workers -4/1-(a)

15 %

22.5 %

38.5 %

1%

Civil servants-4/1-(c)

14 %

18.5 %

32.5 %

-

Self-Employed -4/1-(b)

34.5 %

34.5 %

-

Within the scope of Law No. 5510 4 / 1- (a), the amount corresponding to five points of the employer's share is met by the Treasury from the invalidity, old-age and survivors insurance premiums of the private sector employers who employ insured employees, provided that they do not have debt to the SSI and pay their premiums regularly. Also, except for voluntary insurance holders and insured neighbourhood representatives (mukhtar), the amount corresponding to the five-point portion of the invalidity, old-age and survivors insurance premiums of the insured persons is covered by the Treasury within the scope of the Law 4 / 1- (b), provided that they do not have debt to the SSI and pay their premiums regularly.

In addition, the employers in the private sector employing the insured under 4/a of the Law No. 5510 were enabled to benefit from the premium incentives, support and deduction for reducing social security expenses provided that they ensure additional employment, pay their premium regularly and not to employ informal workers etc.

Reference wage

For the 141st meeting of the Governmental Committee of the European Social Charter and the European Code of Social Security, the reference wage for 2018 was calculated in accordance with the principles specified in articles 65 and 66 of the Code. Accordingly, the average monthly gross wage of a worker working in craft related jobs, including the construction sector, was calculated as 2.811-TL, and the monthly average gross wage of the unqualified worker was 2.483-TL.

However, in Turkey, salaries, incomes, allowances and benefits are not calculated on the basis of the reference wage. In the third paragraph of Article 55 of Law No. 5510, the lower limit used in calculating the salaries of those employed after 2008 / October is specified. Accordingly;

“The amount on which pensions payable pursuant to this Law and the pensions of right holders of deceased insurance holder, shall not be less than 35%, of the average monthly earning determined as per paragraph two of Article 29 as of January of the year of request or decease, or than 40% of that amount if the insurance holder has dependant spouse or children, considering lower limits of earnings subject to premium determined in accordance with Article 82 for each year in service terms. The pensions of right holders shall not be less than 80% if right holder is a single person or than 90% if right holders are two persons, of the lower limit pension calculated in accordance with this paragraph.”

In addition to this, with the Additional Article 19 added to the Law No.5510 with the Law on Amending Tax Laws No. 7161 and Some Laws and Decree Laws enacted on 18/01/2019, a lower limit was provided for old age, invalidity and death pensions. Within the scope of this Article, on file basis, the total of monthly payments including the pensions paid within the scope of invalidity and old age insurance, cannot be less than 1,000 TL including additional payment to be made pursuant to Article 1 of the Law No. 5454 dated 08/02/2006. Pursuant to the same Law, the total of payments made within the scope of death insurance cannot be less than this amount, considering the ratio of the shares of the beneficiaries. The lower limit amount was updated as 1.500 TL with the Law No. 7226 Amending Some Laws dated 25/03/2020.

a. Changes in the reference period:

Due to the earthquake disaster in Elazığ and Malatya provinces, the general health insurance premium debts for the months of December 2019, 2020 / January, February and March, which our citizens living in these provinces must pay, were postponed to 01/06/2020 (included) without applying the delay penalty and interest specified in Article 89 of the Law No. 5510.



[1] Borrowing is a transaction made by SSI, which enables evaluation of the periods in foreign countries as insured periods in Turkey, with the person’s request, documentation and payment of the amount of premium debt set for that year.