As from June 2010, the Social Assistance Information System - SAIS (Sosyal Yardım Bilgi Sistemi - SOYBİS, in Turkish) is being used to determine eligibility for the Green Card (access to free health care), and pensions for the elderly and people with disabilities.

The decision was drafted by the Economic Coordination Committee and signed by the Minister of State Hayati Yazıcı in the General Directorate of the Social Assistance and Solidarity. Eligibility requirements are set forth according to Law no. 2022.

SAIS permits the relevant government authority to access all personal information that is stored in multiple institutions on potential beneficiaries from a central database. This inter-institutional online data-sharing prevents citizen misuse of state resources, and ensures only the most needy receive social assistance.

Background Information:

SAIS is an eGovernment service currently in use in the application process for social assistance. It allows applicants to simply furnish their identity cards in order to establish whether they are entitled to assistance.

Further Information:

• Official press release - Social Assistance and Solidarity General Directorate (in Turkish)
• Related ePractice Article - TR: Social Assistance Information System presented to the public
• Related ePractice Publication - TR: Social Assistance Information System