The information on this page was collected from public resources.
What other forms of social support/welfare should I know about? (Buddy systems, etc.) Who is eligible? How does someone apply?

You can apply for social assistance for one-time cash assistance. For this, you have to state the request, your address needs to be registered and your relevant document (International Protection Applicant or Beneficiary Identity) must be disclosed to the relevant Social Assistance and Solidarity Foundations. Another way to get cash is through the "Conditional Cash Transfer for Education Program": The program provides cash payments to eligible families conditional on regular school attendance of their children (from kindergarten to Grade 12). For more information, follow this link.

Moreover, you could get cash through the "Emergency Social Safety Net": A card is provided to each family that is found eligible. Each month this card will be loaded with 120 TL per family member. The card can be used at any ATM machine to withdraw cash or in shops to buy items using a point of sale machine. Women who live alone, families with more than 4 children or families that have many dependent persons are eligible for the program. Applicants must have International Protection Applicant or Beneficiary Identity Document and be registered in the MERNIS database.

Regardless of their citizenship, foreign nationals, on the condition that they meet the eligibility conditions for unemployment insurance, can apply for unemployment benefits to the Turkish Labor Institution, provided that they have a residence permit.

The eligibility criteria are as follows:

  • being unemployed without his own will and fault,
  • being subject to a service contract for the last 120 days before the end of the service contract,
  • to have paid unemployment insurance premium for at least 600 days in the last three years before the termination of the service contract,
  • to apply in person or electronically to the Turkish Labor Institution unit within 30 days after the termination of the service contract.

Certain foundations in Turkey offer social support programs. These programs mainly include social support and financial aid. The most prominent ones among such programs include:

  1. Social and financial aid offered by UNHCR mceclip0.png;
  2. The Emergency and Social Safety Net Programme (ESSN) mceclip0.png and the Complementary Emergency Social Safety Net (C-ESSN) mceclip0.png. Programme offered by Tรผrk Kฤฑzฤฑlay and funded by the European Union;
  3. The Conditional Cash Transfer for Education (CCTE) Programme offered by UNICEF mceclip0.png.

For Ukrainians who fled the war to Turkey, a large-scale support project was launched by the ASAM international organization. This project is the only centralized initiative to support Ukrainians in Turkey.

As part of the project, Ukrainian refugees receive:

  1. Legal support;
  2. Legal information about rights and obligations in Turkey;
  3. Help of translators;
  4. Medical care;
  5. Humanitarian aid;
  6. Financial support;
  7. Free temporary accommodation;
  8. Possibility of free transportation within the territory of Turkey;
  9. Ability to pay for the services of lawyers if necessary;
  10. Additional financing of rental housing;
  11. Trading cards of a network of grocery stores for buying food.

For all questions of assistance within the framework of the project, call 0312 212 60 12 (Mon-Fri from 9:00 to 17:30). To continue in Ukrainian, press 6. The SGDD-ASAM office in Antalya is available by phone: +90 (312) 212 60 12.

You can contact UNHCR Tรผrkiye through our Counselling Line at 444 48 68 for more information on asylum procedures and/or to seek support for any medical or specific needs that require immediate support. Information and counselling are not yet available in Ukrainian, but English, Russian and Turkish are available. The Counselling Line runs Monday to Thursday from 09:00 until 17:00 and Friday from 09:00 until 16:00. You may also reach UNHCR via e-mail at turan@unhcr.org.

You may also contact the Counselling Line (YIMER) of the Presidency of Migration Management (PMM) at 157, which runs 24 hours a day, seven days a week and does offer counselling in seven languages including Russian.

Are there any social benefits I can claim such as child support?

Yes.

  1. Social Assistance and Solidarity Foundations: They provide support such as education assistance, one-time cash assistance etc. In order to apply for support, a petition stating the request and International Protection Applicant or Beneficiary Identity Document must be disclosed to the relevant SASF. Moreover, the address of the person who applies needs to be registered in the database of the Civil Registry Department.
  2. Social Services Centers: They provide socio-economic support and disabled home care assistance. Socio-economic support is provided to families whose children at risk for a limited period of time. An application must be made to the closest Social Services Center with International Protection Applicant or Beneficiary Identity Document. The Social Service Center completes a social assessment report through a house visit. Additional documents may be required to provide compliance with the support.
  3. Municipalities may also provide support depending.
Are there any social benefits for pregnant and nursing women?

Pregnant and single parents are regarded as people with special needs within the scope of Law No. 6458 on Foreigners and International Protection and are therefore eligible to particular benefits such as priority in the processing of applications, social security regulations and accommodation needs.

Pregnant and nursing women can apply to the Ministry of Family and Social Services for socio-economic support for their children at risk. Further Information on this website mceclip0.png.

You can apply for social assistance for one-time cash assistance. For this, you have to state the request, your address needs to be registered and your relevant document (International Protection Applicant or Beneficiary Identity) must be disclosed to the relevant Social Assistance and Solidarity Foundations. Another way to get cash is through the "Conditional Cash Transfer for Education Program": The program provides cash payments to eligible families conditional on regular school attendance of their children (from kindergarten to Grade 12).ย 

Moreover, you could get cash through the "Emergency Social Safety Net": A card is provided to each family that is found eligible. Each month this card will be loaded with 120 TL per family member. The card can be used at any ATM machine to withdraw cash or in shops to buy items using a point of sale machine. Women who live alone, families with more than 4 children or families that have many dependent persons are eligible for the program. Applicants must have International Protection Applicant or Beneficiary Identity Document and be registered in the MERNIS database. You can apply for social assistance for one-time cash assistance. For this, you have to state the request, your address needs to be registered and your relevant document (International Protection Applicant or Beneficiary Identity) must be disclosed to the relevant Social Assistance and Solidarity Foundations. Another way to get cash is through the "Conditional Cash Transfer for Education Program": The program provides cash payments to eligible families conditional on regular school attendance of their children (from kindergarten to Grade 12). For more information, follow this link.

How can I meet and socialize with other Ukrainians in a similar position?
Are there specific social supports available to me if I am elderly?

Elderly people are regarded as people with special needs within the scope of Law No. 6458 on Foreigners and International Protection and are therefore eligible for particular benefits such as priority in the processing of applications, social security regulations, and accommodation needs.

The Emergency and Social Safety Net Programme (ESSN) mceclip0.png and the Complementary Emergency Social Safety Net (C-ESSN) mceclip0.png offered by Tรผrk Kฤฑzฤฑlay and funded by the European Union also take into consideration the elderly.

Elderly people may also apply to the local Social Assistance and Solidarity Foundation for one-time financial aid, non-food supplies aid, coal aid, and education, shelter, and health assistance.

Are there specific social supports available to me if I have a disability?

People with disabilities are regarded as people with special needs within the scope of Law No. 6458 on Foreigners and International Protection and are therefore eligible to particular benefits such as priority in the processing of applications, social security regulations and accommodation needs.

The Ministry of Family and Social Services is responsible for certain social supports available to disabled persons. The Emergency and Social Safety Net Programme (ESSN) mceclip0.png and the Complementary Emergency Social Safety Net (C-ESSN) mceclip0.png ย offered by Tรผrk Kฤฑzฤฑlay and funded by the European Union focus on vulnerable groups in society. There are further support projects realized in cooperation with the UNFPA regarding support centers for refugees with disabilities.

How can I help others? What volunteering organizations could I join?