Implementation of Premium Debt Deductions from Income and Pension Benefits Begins

SSI General Circular No. 2026/19, dated July 24, 2026, sets out the procedures and principles governing the implementation of Additional Article 24 of the Social Insurance and General Health Insurance Law No. 5510. Under this regulation, insurance premiums, including general health insurance premiums, and related premium debts arising from an individual's own insurance coverage may be collected through direct deductions from the income or pension benefits paid by the Social Security Institution (SSI), without the need to initiate enforcement proceedings or obtain the debtor's consent.

According to the General Circular, the deduction mechanism applies to general health insurance premiums as well as other insurance premiums and premium-related debts arising from the insured person's own insurance status. Deductions may be made from old-age pensions, disability pensions, duty disability pensions, permanent incapacity benefits, survivors' pensions, and survivors' income benefits. The objective is to facilitate a more efficient and timely collection of the Institution's receivables.

One of the most significant aspects of the General Circular concerns the recovery of premium debts owed by deceased insured persons. Premium debts incurred before the insured person's death may be recovered only through deductions from the survivor's pension or survivor's income benefit granted on the basis of that deceased insured person.

The deduction mechanism applies exclusively to continuous payments classified as income benefits or pension benefits under Law No. 5510. In contrast, pensions granted under Law No. 5774, Law No. 5233, and Temporary Article 18 of Law No. 5510 are expressly excluded from the scope of the deduction mechanism.

• Although the Law sets a maximum deduction limit of 25% of the relevant income or pension benefit, the General Circular establishes a standard deduction rate of 10% for practical implementation. Deductions will continue at this rate until the outstanding debt has been fully recovered.
• Where an individual has multiple premium debts, collection will be made in a prescribed order, starting with general health insurance premium debts. Within the same category of debt, the oldest debt that is not time-barred will be collected first.

General Circular No. 2026/19 establishes a comprehensive framework for the deduction of premium debts from income and pension benefits, clarifying both the collection mechanism for the Institution's receivables and the circumstances under which beneficiaries may be subject to deductions. Notable features of the Circular include the ability to recover premium debts without initiating enforcement proceedings, the adoption of a standard 10% deduction rate in practice, the limitations introduced with respect to beneficiaries, and the clear identification of payments that fall outside the scope of the deduction mechanism.

You may access the relevant announcement here. (In Turkish)

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