I am very curious how the elderly are cared for in Turkey. Is there a pension/social security system to provide income, housing, food, and health care to the elderly and disabled? Or, are people only cared for by family. What if they have no family, no savings, and no health care- how do they survive?

Is there welfare payments for the poor also? (food checks and $$ for rent etc...)

In the USA we are taxed for this (a great deal), but I understand that less than 10% of Turks pay taxes, so how are the poor and elderly provided for? I do know about the government revenues from gas/petrol taxes, but this can't be enough to provide for an entire nation of people.

I know that 50% of my income goes to retirement taxes, and a private pension fund.

How does it work in Turkey?

Thanks so much for any clarification.

Christine

Thanks susie k for responding. It does indeed seem harsh for the poor, since I imagine the majority of Turkish people work for small business, or in the informal sector. I don't know how they live without receiving government money. I guess this explains the function of the extended family.

Surely, there must be free hospitals/medical care though.

I don't believe you have to pay taxes either. So if there isn't social security or medicare, what do the elderly do? Also, just curious I know in Mexico you don't have to have a doctors prescription and the meds are alot cheaper. How about in Turkey?