Unemployment Benefit in Türkiye for 2023

March 1, 2023 

Summary Information on Unemployment Benefit (Salary) for 2023 in Türkiye

-In order to receive unemployment benefit, the employment contract must be terminated through the employee’s own fault. (For example: termination of employment contract by the employer,) those who quit their job with a mutual rescission agreement cannot receive unemployment benefits.

– Unemployment benefit is 40% of the insured’s Social Security (SSI) Premium base for the last four months. This amount cannot exceed 80% of the minimum wage.

In 2023, the net unemployment benefit of the person working with a gross wage of 10,008 TL for the last four months will be 3,972.82 TL.

Example: Unemployment benefit of the person whose SSI premium base for the last 4 months is 15,000 TL;

Gross/SSI Base    : 15.000 TL

Rate 40%              : 6.000 TL

Stamp Duty          : 45.54 TL

Net Amount         : 5.954.46 TL

Example: Unemployment benefit of the person whose SSI premium base for the last 4 months is 30,000 TL;

Gross/SSI Base     : 30.000 TL

Rate 40%              : 8,006.40 TL (Minimum Wage 10,008 TL x 80%= 8,006.40)

Stamp Duty           : 45.54 TL

Net Amount           : 7.960.86 TL

– Unemployment benefit can be received for 6 months, 8 months and 10 months depending on the working period.

– Unemployment benefits are cut for those who start working again while receiving unemployment benefits.

During the unemployment benefit, the person and his/her dependents continue to benefit from health services.

– It is necessary to apply to Turkish Employment Agency (İŞKUR) in person or online within 30 days after the termination of the employment contract. Payments are deposited into accounts on the 5th of the month

1- What is Unemployment Benefit (Salary)?

The payment given to the employees for a specific period and amount for the period they are unemployed is referred to as unemployment benefit if they are insured and fulfill the requirements outlined in the Unemployment Insurance Law No. 4447. It also goes by the name “unemployment salary”.

2- What are the Conditions for Getting Unemployment Benefit?

– The employee must be unemployed, except for his/her own will and fault.

– It is necessary to be subject to a service contract for the last 120 days before the employee’s contract expires.

– It is necessary to have paid unemployment insurance premium for at least 600 days in the last three years before the termination of the employment contract.

– It is necessary to apply to the nearest İŞKUR unit in person or electronically within 30 days after the termination of the employment contract.

3- How to Apply for Unemployment Benefit?

The employee must apply to the nearest İŞKUR department within 30 days following the expiration of the employment contract.

The application can be made to the İŞKUR department in person, or it can be made on the website of İŞKUR. If no application is made within 30 days (except for force majeure), the unemployment benefit corresponding to the delay in the application is not paid.

In order for unemployment benefits to be paid, the insured unemployed must be ready to take up a job. With the unemployment benefit application, the job seeker registration of the person is made or updated. Thus, it is ensured that the insured unemployed receive consultancy, job placement and vocational training services. Therefore, it is not possible to apply with a Power of Attorney.

4- During the Unemployment Benefit, a Person Can Benefit from Health Services with His/Her Family

Insured persons receiving Unemployment Benefit (Salary) continue to benefit from health services during the period they receive unemployment benefit, together with their dependent family members.

Only general health insurance premiums are paid on behalf of the insured. No premium is paid for retirement.

5- Duration of Unemployment Benefit

In the last three years before the termination of the employment contract;

Unemployment benefit is paid for a period of 180 days (6 months) to the insured unemployed who have worked as insured for 600 days and paid unemployment insurance premiums.

Unemployment benefit is paid for a period of 240 days (8 months) to the insured unemployed who worked as insured for 900 days and paid unemployment insurance premium.

Unemployment benefit is paid for 300 days (10 months) to the insured unemployed who have worked as insured for 1080 days and paid unemployment insurance premiums.

6- Calculation of Unemployment Benefit Amount

The daily unemployment benefit is 40% of the insured’s average daily gross earnings calculated by taking into account the earnings of the insured for the last four months.

The amount of unemployment benefit calculated in this way cannot exceed 80% of the gross amount of the monthly minimum wage.

Stamp duty is deducted at the rate of 7.59 per thousand from unemployment benefits, no other deductions are made.

Monthly unemployment benefit calculation for 2023

7- Alimony Debts Can Be Deducted From Unemployment Benefit

Except for alimony debts, lien and cannot be transferred to anyone else.

8- Finalization of Unemployment Benefit Application and Payment Time

Unemployment benefit applications are finalized by the end of the following month. Unemployment benefit is paid monthly to the unemployed person on the fifth of each month.

Payments to the insured unemployed are made through the bank account numbers (IBAN) notified to İŞKUR, and in case of missing or incorrect account numbers, via the nearest PTTBank.

9- Circumstances in which Unemployment Benefit is Cut Off

While receiving unemployment benefit;

– Rejecting the job offered by İŞKUR without justification

Unemployment benefits of those who refuse a job offered by İŞKUR without justification, which are suitable for their profession, close to the wage and working conditions of their last job, and within the boundaries of the municipality’s contiguous area of the place of residence, are cut off so that they do not start again.

– Working informally while receiving unemployment benefits

Unemployment benefits of those who are found to be working informally while receiving unemployment benefit from our Institution during the inspections carried out by the inspectors who have the authority to examine and supervise the working life or by the supervisors of the public administrations, are cut off in order not to be started again.

– Retiring while receiving unemployment benefits

The benefits of those who start to receive old-age pension from any social security institution while receiving unemployment benefit are cut off as of the date they start to receive old-age pension on the grounds of “Retirement”.

– Not participating in vocational development courses offered by İŞKUR 

Unemployment benefits are cut off for those who refuse the vocational development, training and training offered by İŞKUR without justification, or do not continue despite accepting it, do not respond to the calls made by the Institution without justification, and do not submit the requested information and documents within the stipulated time. However, if these conditions are over, the payments are started again. The duration of the payment cannot exceed the expiry date of the total entitlement period determined at the beginning.

10- Notification Obligations of Unemployment Benefit Recipients

Within the period of unemployment benefit, in the following cases, the situation must be reported to the nearest İŞKUR department or Alo170 within 15 days;

-Change of residence address,

– Obtaining an old-age pension from any social security institution,

– Resting by an authorized health institution,

– Recruitment,

– Going abroad,

– Starting a job or

-Reinstatement to work by court decision

11- Those Who Unjustly Get Unemployment Benefit Have to Repay These Payments with Legal Interest 

Unemployment benefit beneficiaries are obliged to pay the overpayments, together with legal interest, due to their own fault and incomplete or inaccurate information.

12- Unemployment Benefit Restart Status

In case of re-employment before the completion of the unemployment benefit period and being unemployed again without fulfilling the conditions required to benefit from the unemployment benefit while benefiting from the benefit, it can be benefited from until the unemployment benefit period previously earned is completed. Payments are made as of the date of application to İŞKUR in the continuation of the remaining entitlement.

In case of being unemployed again by meeting the eligibility conditions, unemployment benefit is paid only for the period arising from this new entitlement.

Ali KARAKUŞ

CPA, Independent Auditor

Karen Audit

Istanbul,

March 1, 2023

Source: Turkish Employment Agency’s (İŞKUR) Basic Information on Unemployment Benefit
Legal Notice: The information in this article is intended for information purposes only. It is not intended for professional information purposes specific to a person or an institution. Every institution has different requirements because of its own circumstances even though they bear a resemblance to each other. Consequently, it is your interest to consult on an expert before taking a decision based on information stated in this article and putting into practice. Neither Karen Audit nor related person or institutions are not responsible for any damages or losses that might occur in consequence of the use of the information in this article by private or formal, real or legal person and institutions.