SGK’s New Audit Policy: Past Travels Could Risk Your Retirement

A new regulation from the Social Security Institution (SGK) has sent shockwaves through the workforce, particularly those preparing for retirement under the EYT (Retirement Age Victims) law. According to Social Security Expert Özgür Erdursun, the SGK has begun cross-referencing retirement applications against historical international travel records, resulting in unexpected hurdles for thousands of citizens.

The core of the issue lies in verifying “active working days” during periods when a citizen was physically abroad.

The “Permit Document” Requirement

When a citizen applies for retirement, the SGK now reviews passport entries and exits. If a person is found to have been abroad while appearing as an “active insured employee” (4A status) in Türkiye, the institution demands proof of legal absence.

• The Request: You must provide a formal permit or leave document (izin belgesi) from your employer at that time, stating that you were on official leave during those specific dates.

• The Retroactive Challenge: This request can apply to travel that occurred 5, 10, or even 15 years ago.

• The Difficulty: Many citizens find it nearly impossible to retrieve documents from past employers, especially if the company has closed, merged, or changed management.

The Consequences: Deletion of Premium Days

Failure to provide the requested documentation leads to severe administrative action by the SGK:

1. Deletion of Premiums: Any premium days recorded while you were abroad without a verified permit are deleted from your record.

2. Retirement Delays: For those who met their premium requirement by a narrow margin, the deletion of even a few days can invalidate their retirement status.

3. Financial Loss: This results in the suspension of pension payments or forces the individual to return to the workforce to make up the missing days.

Expert Advice: Protect Your Future Archive

Expert Özgür Erdursun warns that this practice is being applied strictly during the final audit of retirement files. To avoid being “shocked” at the finish line, experts recommend the following:

• Keep Personal Copies: Whenever you travel abroad while employed, ensure you keep a signed and stamped copy of your leave form or annual permit in your personal digital archive.

• Check Past Gaps: If you are nearing retirement, review your past international trips and try to secure documents from current or recent employers before the relationship ends.

• Legal Action: In cases where a company is closed, and the SGK deletes days despite a genuine holiday, legal experts suggest that the “burden of proof” and “ordinary course of life” (such as a weekend trip not requiring a formal work cessation) may be grounds for a lawsuit.

As the SGK increases its digital auditing capabilities, “voluntary compliance” and meticulous record-keeping are becoming the new prerequisites for a smooth transition into retirement.

Source: karar