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Test
17 February 2026
Author Civan Güneş, Category Work Life
In Türkiye, the social security system aims to provide protection against risks that every employee may encounter throughout their lifetime. (such as illness, unemployment, old age, disability, death, etc.)
The institutional framework of this system is established under Law No. 5502 on the Social Security Institution (SSI) and Law No. 5510 on Social Insurance and General Health Insurance, and as of 2004, the former systems of the Social Insurance Institution (SSK), the Social Security Organization for Artisans and the Self-Employed (BAĞ-KUR), and the Pension Fund were consolidated under a single institutional structure.
Following this consolidation, employees' insured status has been classified into three main categories: 4A (SSI), 4B (BAĞ-KUR), and 4C (Pension Fund).
In this article, we will examine in detail the scope of these three insurance types, their differences, and the contribution rates applicable for the year 2026.
Within the SSI system, insured status is determined based on an individual's type of employment and method of earning income.
In this context:
Each insurance type differs in terms of contribution payment method, retirement conditions, scope of health coverage, and entitlement to unemployment insurance.
4A insurance refers to the social security coverage of employees working under an employer in the private sector.
Pursuant to subparagraph (a) of Article 4 of Law No. 5510, everyone who works for an employer under an employment contract is insured within the scope of 4A.
As of 2026, the gross minimum wage is TRY 33,030.00, and the contribution rates applicable under 4A are as follows:
*When the 2-point employer incentive is applied, the employer's contribution rate is reduced to 21.75%.
Voluntary insurance enables individuals who are not employed in any job or whose insured status has ended to maintain their social security entitlements by paying their own contributions.
This framework is regulated under Articles 40 and 41 of Law No. 5510.
The total contribution rate is 33%, of which:
Based on the gross minimum wage for 2026:
TRY 33,030.00 × 33% = TRY 10,899.90 (Monthly minimum voluntary insurance contribution)
4B insurance, formerly known as BAĞ-KUR, covers individuals who are self-employed and working on their own behalf.
Taxpayers, company partners, self-employed professionals, and individuals engaged in agricultural activities are considered 4B insured person.
4B insured person bears the entire contribution obligation personally. The total contribution rate is 35.75%, distributed as follows:
The minimum 4B contribution for 2026:
TRY 33,030.00 × 35.75% = TRY 11,808.23 / month
4B insured person become entitled to retirement upon completing 9000 contribution days.
4C insurance is the system applicable to public officials and civil servants.
This structure, formerly known as the Pension Fund, is regulated through the provisional articles added to Law No. 5434 under Law No. 5510.
Persons Covered:
Retirement Conditions
The majority of contributions are covered through state funding. 4C insured persons are not entitled to unemployment insurance.
The table below summarizes which individuals are subject to which insurance scheme:
Being included in the social security system provides not only retirement benefits but also numerous rights during active employment:
Türkiye's social security system operates through the 4A, 4B, and 4C insurance types, which are structured according to the different employment statuses of employees. This structure provides social protection tailored to each individual's type of work, offering security both during working life and throughout the retirement period.
While individuals working under an employer in the private sector are considered 4A insured persons, those who run their own business or are company partners fall within the scope of 4B, and civil servants employed in public institutions are evaluated under 4C.
Each insurance type differs in terms of contribution rates, retirement conditions, scope of health coverage, and entitlement procedures.
Today, many processes, from retirement planning to access to healthcare services, are carried out based on these insurance statuses. Therefore, accurately identifying one's insurance type and regularly monitoring contribution payments is the most effective way to prevent potential loss of rights in the future.
The dynamic nature of the social security system creates a constantly evolving regulatory landscape for both employees and employers. For this reason, understanding the differences between 4A, 4B, and 4C insurance types is of critical importance not only for today but also for ensuring future financial security.
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