Millions in Türkiye Rely on Social Aid to Survive, Ministry Reveals
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The 2024 Activity Report by Türkiye’s Ministry of Family and Social Services has unveiled the scale of the country’s growing economic strain, showing that millions of citizens now rely on government-backed social assistance programs to survive.
According to the report, more than 4.5 million households received some form of social aid in the past year. In addition, the government covered the general health insurance premiums for 9.4 million people who lacked the financial means to do so. The number of households benefiting from electricity consumption support reached 4.1 million.
4.2 Million Received Food Assistance, 1.5 Million Benefited from Coal Aid
The report highlighted key areas where support was provided. Under the Family Support Program, a total of 46.4 billion Turkish liras was distributed to 3.6 million households.
In parallel, 4.2 million people received food assistance, while 1.5 million households were supported through coal deliveries to meet heating needs.
Healthcare Support Reached Nearly One Million Citizens
Healthcare coverage was another major area of focus. According to data cited in Cumhuriyet, 9.4 million people unable to pay their general health insurance premiums received a total of 105.6 billion TL in support. Additionally, more than 932,000 citizens benefited from conditional health assistance programs.
702,000 Households Got Natural Gas Aid; Nearly 400,000 Students Received Educational Materials
Natural gas consumption aid was extended to 702,253 households, totaling 1.4 billion TL in government support. 384,426 students received aid for school materials, with 476.7 million TL disbursed.
Furthermore, 1,597 students were supported for transportation, accommodation, and meal expenses, with an allocation of 5.9 million TL. Transportation assistance was given to 72,073 students, amounting to 138.9 million TL.
More Than 805,000 Elderly Benefited from Old-Age Pension Program
The report also confirmed that 805,000+ elderly citizens received old-age pensions, with a total payment of 34.7 billion TL. Meanwhile, over 700,000 households continued to benefit from the natural gas aid program.
The Ministry emphasized that women who lost their spouses, orphaned children, families of conscripts, and students enrolled in formal education were among those receiving targeted aid.
Ultimately, the data reveals a stark reality: a significant portion of Türkiye’s population outside the formal social security system relies on government assistance to meet basic needs.