A project jointly financed by the Republic of Turkey and the European Union (EU) and implemented by the Social Security Institution (SGK) provides financial support to working mothers. Details of the project aimed at supporting the participation of women in the workforce and the registered employment of working women have raised curiosity. Full-time working mothers will receive 510 euros or the equivalent of 18,926 Turkish liras, while single or mothers with children with special needs will receive 560 euros or the equivalent of 20,779 Turkish liras. So, how can working mothers get caregiver support?

Last year, under the European Union (EU) supported project carried out by the Social Security Institution (SGK), 3,500 insured mothers with children aged 0-36 months in Ankara, Istanbul, and Izmir were provided with 325 euros monthly support for 12 months. And now, the focus is on the 2025 applications for the project. The monthly support amount for the year 2025 within the project carried out for 20 months in Istanbul, Ankara, and Izmir was set at 15 million 295 thousand liras.

The Minister of Labor and Social Security, Vedat Işıkhan, announced that this year, more than 15 million euros in support will be provided to working mothers in three cities through the “EDU-CARE II Project for Supporting Registered Female Employment through Incentivizing Educated Child Caregivers.”

Minister Işıkhan expressed on his social media account that they are always by the side of working mothers. He emphasized that through the “EDU-CARE II Project for Supporting Registered Female Employment through Incentivizing Educated Child Caregivers,” they aim to support mothers in joining the registered workforce and to promote insured and educated child caregiving. He used statements such as, “In 2025, a total support amount exceeding 15 million liras will be provided within the project carried out in Ankara, Istanbul, Izmir.”

The monthly support amounts for this year within the project carried out for 20 months are as follows:
– 510 euros for full-time working mothers
– 560 euros for single or mothers with children with special needs
– 255 euros for part-time working mothers
– 305 euros for single or part-time working mothers with children with special needs

Applications can be made through the Provincial Directorates of the Ministry of Family and Social Services or through the Social Security Institution (SGK). Mothers residing with their children in Istanbul, Ankara, and Izmir can apply through the “sgkegitimlibakici.org” and “sgk.org.tr” websites with an e-Government password.

Full-time working mothers will receive 18,926 liras, single or mothers with children with special needs will receive 20,779 liras, part-time working mothers will receive 9,462 liras, and single or part-time working mothers with children with special needs will receive 11,317 liras.

To be eligible for the support, the following criteria must be met:
– Having a child aged between 0-24 months (including the 24th month) at the time of application (pre-registration),
– Residing in Ankara, Istanbul, or Izmir,
– Residing in the same household as the child,
– Being a single mother with custody of the child and living at the same address,
– Being employed full-time or part-time under an employer by the definitive registration date (excluding those subject to bank insurance funds without transfer to SGK within the scope of Law No. 5510),
– Employing an educated child caregiver as a full-time insured employee if working full-time,
– Employing an educated child caregiver as a part-time insured employee if working part-time,
– Not being on maternity leave during the project period,
– Paying your caregiver a wage at least at the level of the minimum wage (half of the minimum wage for part-time caregivers), and
– Not working as a caregiver within the project.