ssa-gov/policy/docs/progdesc/ssptw/2004-2005/asia/japan.html
2025-02-19 12:17:21 -08:00

317 lines
No EOL
47 KiB
HTML

<!doctype html>
<html lang="en" class="no-js">
<head>
<meta charset="UTF-8" />
<meta http-equiv="X-UA-Compatible" content="IE=edge,chrome=1" />
<meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" />
<meta name="robots" content="noindex">
<title>Social Security Programs Throughout the World: Asia and the Pacific, 2004 - Japan</title>
<meta name="DCTERMS:dateCreated" content="2005-03" />
<meta name="DCTERMS:contentOffice" content="ORDP:ORES" />
<meta name="DCTERMS:contentOwner" content="publications@ssa.gov" />
<meta name="DCTERMS:coderOffice" content="ORDP:ORES:OD" />
<meta name="DCTERMS:coder" content="op.webmaster@ssa.gov" />
<meta name="DCTERMS:dateCertified" content="2025-01-01" />
<meta name="description" content="Social Security Administration Research, Statistics, and Policy Analysis" />
<meta property="og:site_name" content="Social Security Administration Research, Statistics, and Policy Analysis"/>
<link rel="stylesheet" href="/policy/styles/doc.css" />
<link rel="stylesheet" href="/policy/styles/global.css" />
<!-- SSA INTERNET HEAD SCRIPTS -->
<script src="https://code.jquery.com/jquery-3.7.1.min.js" integrity="sha256-/JqT3SQfawRcv/BIHPThkBvs0OEvtFFmqPF/lYI/Cxo=" crossorigin="anonymous"></script>
<script src="/framework/js/ssa.internet.head.js"></script>
<script>(window.BOOMR_mq=window.BOOMR_mq||[]).push(["addVar",{"rua.upush":"false","rua.cpush":"false","rua.upre":"false","rua.cpre":"false","rua.uprl":"false","rua.cprl":"false","rua.cprf":"false","rua.trans":"SJ-3a3bb884-f513-47e3-a86c-84bab05e21dc","rua.cook":"true","rua.ims":"false","rua.ufprl":"false","rua.cfprl":"false","rua.isuxp":"false","rua.texp":"norulematch","rua.ceh":"false","rua.ueh":"false","rua.ieh.st":"0"}]);</script>
<script>!function(e){var n="https://s.go-mpulse.net/boomerang/";if("False"=="True")e.BOOMR_config=e.BOOMR_config||{},e.BOOMR_config.PageParams=e.BOOMR_config.PageParams||{},e.BOOMR_config.PageParams.pci=!0,n="https://s2.go-mpulse.net/boomerang/";if(window.BOOMR_API_key="LERZW-HECFS-R8H4E-23UQ7-ERMQB",function(){function e(){if(!o){var e=document.createElement("script");e.id="boomr-scr-as",e.src=window.BOOMR.url,e.async=!0,i.parentNode.appendChild(e),o=!0}}function t(e){o=!0;var n,t,a,r,d=document,O=window;if(window.BOOMR.snippetMethod=e?"if":"i",t=function(e,n){var t=d.createElement("script");t.id=n||"boomr-if-as",t.src=window.BOOMR.url,BOOMR_lstart=(new Date).getTime(),e=e||d.body,e.appendChild(t)},!window.addEventListener&&window.attachEvent&&navigator.userAgent.match(/MSIE [67]\./))return window.BOOMR.snippetMethod="s",void t(i.parentNode,"boomr-async");a=document.createElement("IFRAME"),a.src="about:blank",a.title="",a.role="presentation",a.loading="eager",r=(a.frameElement||a).style,r.width=0,r.height=0,r.border=0,r.display="none",i.parentNode.appendChild(a);try{O=a.contentWindow,d=O.document.open()}catch(_){n=document.domain,a.src="javascript:var d=document.open();d.domain='"+n+"';void(0);",O=a.contentWindow,d=O.document.open()}if(n)d._boomrl=function(){this.domain=n,t()},d.write("<bo"+"dy onload='document._boomrl();'>");else if(O._boomrl=function(){t()},O.addEventListener)O.addEventListener("load",O._boomrl,!1);else if(O.attachEvent)O.attachEvent("onload",O._boomrl);d.close()}function a(e){window.BOOMR_onload=e&&e.timeStamp||(new Date).getTime()}if(!window.BOOMR||!window.BOOMR.version&&!window.BOOMR.snippetExecuted){window.BOOMR=window.BOOMR||{},window.BOOMR.snippetStart=(new Date).getTime(),window.BOOMR.snippetExecuted=!0,window.BOOMR.snippetVersion=12,window.BOOMR.url=n+"LERZW-HECFS-R8H4E-23UQ7-ERMQB";var i=document.currentScript||document.getElementsByTagName("script")[0],o=!1,r=document.createElement("link");if(r.relList&&"function"==typeof r.relList.supports&&r.relList.supports("preload")&&"as"in r)window.BOOMR.snippetMethod="p",r.href=window.BOOMR.url,r.rel="preload",r.as="script",r.addEventListener("load",e),r.addEventListener("error",function(){t(!0)}),setTimeout(function(){if(!o)t(!0)},3e3),BOOMR_lstart=(new Date).getTime(),i.parentNode.appendChild(r);else t(!1);if(window.addEventListener)window.addEventListener("load",a,!1);else if(window.attachEvent)window.attachEvent("onload",a)}}(),"".length>0)if(e&&"performance"in e&&e.performance&&"function"==typeof e.performance.setResourceTimingBufferSize)e.performance.setResourceTimingBufferSize();!function(){if(BOOMR=e.BOOMR||{},BOOMR.plugins=BOOMR.plugins||{},!BOOMR.plugins.AK){var n="false"=="true"?1:0,t="cookiepresent",a="eyd7g6aaiaaamjqacqdfqaaaabt3mott-f-9ad20f967-clienttons-s.akamaihd.net",i="false"=="true"?2:1,o={"ak.v":"39","ak.cp":"1204614","ak.ai":parseInt("728289",10),"ak.ol":"0","ak.cr":3,"ak.ipv":6,"ak.proto":"h2","ak.rid":"14c8f31a","ak.r":19138,"ak.a2":n,"ak.m":"dsca","ak.n":"essl","ak.bpcip":"2607:f378:40:6::","ak.cport":40596,"ak.gh":"23.60.168.62","ak.quicv":"","ak.tlsv":"tls1.3","ak.0rtt":"","ak.0rtt.ed":"","ak.csrc":"-","ak.acc":"","ak.t":"1739995763","ak.ak":"hOBiQwZUYzCg5VSAfCLimQ==UEi3S8VW16/niL+fuCp7bM5/1EDfGxlp7ysChtysEDQ4ovI7UE1MQI7a5xs7sGBtCfsKRX+bABfFE4epgDtPZPyKbkz8jJ/tGWCTKCxPgrjvXVTz5/vqFQW38LZUIhBow4coH7J5XFTbnXAXyVKu+D5LQNiYXGUwH2i6yrrEyNFjWMMtJrFLdfg9ObxybJG3sUEeFu+Zv39TcZjKoG/1KaiReitaHFRPz/PPcmdqjjRkduXsG2NHU/Yr8s6I0SWmVzjS6osRJeaFik4zGsJqHBMVYN6LeyRbVenp1FDy8UV+SmC8L8znDkTJLToG3PccfRPoxetr1SmQDx0IU7k4atEsOvqgkYO5DJjf3FAqZeAWQm+lNdf2Va04M8IgIKs3NWXvbQC/i2syt+Lx8Ml4G4Dq+a7pG2mULEWSzrIMs84=","ak.pv":"98","ak.dpoabenc":"","ak.tf":i};if(""!==t)o["ak.ruds"]=t;var r={i:!1,av:function(n){var t="http.initiator";if(n&&(!n[t]||"spa_hard"===n[t]))o["ak.feo"]=void 0!==e.aFeoApplied?1:0,BOOMR.addVar(o)},rv:function(){var e=["ak.bpcip","ak.cport","ak.cr","ak.csrc","ak.gh","ak.ipv","ak.m","ak.n","ak.ol","ak.proto","ak.quicv","ak.tlsv","ak.0rtt","ak.0rtt.ed","ak.r","ak.acc","ak.t","ak.tf"];BOOMR.removeVar(e)}};BOOMR.plugins.AK={akVars:o,akDNSPreFetchDomain:a,init:function(){if(!r.i){var e=BOOMR.subscribe;e("before_beacon",r.av,null,null),e("onbeacon",r.rv,null,null),r.i=!0}return this},is_complete:function(){return!0}}}}()}(window);</script></head>
<body class="op ssptw">
<article>
<header>
<div id="hLogo"><a class="navLogo" href="/policy/index.html">Social Security</a><a class="navSearch" href="https://search.ssa.gov/search?affiliate=ssa">SEARCH</a></div>
<div id="hRedBar">
<div id="hDocInfo">
<h1>Social Security Programs Throughout the World: Asia and the Pacific, 2004</h1>
</div>
</div>
</header>
<nav>
<div id="breadcrumbs" itemscope itemtype="http://schema.org/BreadcrumbList">You are here: <span itemprop="itemListElement" itemscope itemtype="http://schema.org/ListItem"><a href="/" itemprop="item"><span itemprop="name">Social Security Administration</span></a><meta itemprop="position" content="1" /></span> &gt; <span itemprop="itemListElement" itemscope itemtype="http://schema.org/ListItem"><a href="/policy/index.html" itemprop="item"><span itemprop="name">Research, Statistics &amp; Policy Analysis</span></a><meta itemprop="position" content="2" /></span> &gt; <span itemprop="itemListElement" itemscope itemtype="http://schema.org/ListItem"><a href="index.html" itemprop="item"><span itemprop="name">Social Security Programs Throughout the World: Asia and the Pacific, 2004</span></a><meta itemprop="position" content="3" /></span></div>
<div id="rspaUtil"><ul><li id="mail"><a class="js-ga-event" href="#" rel="nofollow" data-event="outbound-link" data-event-action="click" data-event-label="email-this">Email</a></li><li id="print"><a href="#" rel="nofollow">Save/Print</a></li></ul></div>
</nav>
<div class="innards">
<h1>Japan</h1>
<div class="exchangeRate">Exchange rate: US$1.00 equals 110.19&nbsp;yen.</div>
<h2>Old Age, Disability, and Survivors</h2>
<h3>Regulatory Framework</h3>
<p><span class="h4">First law:</span> 1941 (employees' pension insurance).</p>
<p><span class="h4">Current laws:</span> 1954 (employees' pension insurance) and 1959 (national pension), with 1985 amendment.</p>
<p><span class="h4">Type of program:</span> A social insurance system involving a flat-rate benefit for all residents under the national pension program and earnings-related benefits under the employees' pension insurance program or other employment-related program.</p>
<p>Note: The provisions and rates are effective as of April&nbsp;1, 2004.</p>
<h3>Coverage</h3>
<p><span class="h4">National pension program:</span> Residents aged&nbsp;20 to 59; voluntary coverage for residents aged&nbsp;60 to 64 (aged&nbsp;65 to 69 in special cases) and for citizens residing abroad (aged&nbsp;20 to 64).</p>
<p><span class="h4">Employees' pension insurance:</span> Employees of firms in industry and commerce, including seamen. (Partial contracting-out from employees' pension insurance is allowed if corporate plans provide equivalent or higher benefits.)</p>
<p>Special employment-related schemes for civil servants and private-school employees.</p>
<h3>Source of Funds</h3>
<h4>Insured person</h4>
<p><span class="h5">National pension program:</span> The contribution is included in the insured person's contribution to the employees' pension insurance or other employment-related program. A proportionate amount is transferred to the national pension program.</p>
<p>All other insured persons contribute 13,300&nbsp;yen a month. Low-income spouses of workers insured under the employment-related program may apply for exemption from payment.</p>
<p><span class="h5">Employees' pension insurance:</span> 6.79% of basic monthly earnings and salary bonuses before tax, according to 30 wage classes; miners and seamen contribute 7.48% of basic monthly earnings including salary bonuses before tax, according to 30 wage classes.</p>
<p>If the employer is contracted-out, the contribution is between 5.29% and 5.59% of monthly earnings including salary bonuses before tax.</p>
<p>The minimum monthly earnings for contribution and benefit purposes are 98,000&nbsp;yen.</p>
<p>The maximum monthly earnings for contribution and benefit purposes are 620,000&nbsp;yen.</p>
<p>The minimum and maximum earnings levels are adjusted on an ad hoc basis in line with the increase in the national average wage.</p>
<h4>Self-employed person</h4>
<p><span class="h5">National pension program:</span> 13,300&nbsp;yen per month.</p>
<p><span class="h5">Employees' pension insurance:</span> Not applicable.</p>
<h4>Employer</h4>
<p><span class="h5">National pension program:</span> The contribution is included in the employer contribution to the employees' pension insurance or other employment-related program. A proportionate amount is transferred to the national pension program.</p>
<p><span class="h5">Employees' pension insurance:</span> 6.79% of monthly payroll including salary bonuses before tax, according to 30&nbsp;wage classes; contributions for miners and seamen, 7.48% of payroll including salary bonuses before tax, according to 30&nbsp;wage classes.</p>
<p>If the employer is contracted-out, the contribution is between 5.29% and 5.59% of monthly payroll including salary bonuses before tax.</p>
<p>The minimum monthly earnings for contribution and benefit purposes are 98,000&nbsp;yen.</p>
<p>The maximum monthly earnings for contribution and benefit purposes are 620,000&nbsp;yen.</p>
<p>The minimum and maximum earnings levels are adjusted on an ad hoc basis in line with the increase in the national average wage.</p>
<h4>Government</h4>
<p><span class="h5">National pension program:</span> One-third of the cost of benefits, plus 100% of administrative costs.</p>
<p><span class="h5">Employees' pension insurance:</span> The cost of administration.</p>
<h3>Qualifying Conditions</h3>
<h4>Old-age pension</h4>
<p><span class="h5">National pension program:</span> Age&nbsp;65 with a minimum of 25&nbsp;years of contributions (the coverage period can include years of coverage under any employment-related program belonging to the insured's dependent or common-law spouse). There is no requirement to cease employment, and the pension is not earnings tested.</p>
<p>Early pension: An early pension is payable between ages&nbsp;60 and 64. There is no requirement to cease employment, and the pension is not earnings tested.</p>
<p>Deferred pension: The pension may be deferred up to age&nbsp;69.</p>
<p>Dependent supplement: No supplements are paid for a spouse or children. (If the insured receives a supplement for a spouse under the employees' pension insurance scheme, when the spouse reaches age&nbsp;65 he or she will receive a pension under the national pension program equal to the employee's pension insurance supplement. The spouse must not qualify for a national pension in his or her own right.)</p>
<p><span class="h5">Employees' pension insurance:</span> Age&nbsp;60 (age&nbsp;55, for seamen and miners) with 25&nbsp;years of coverage. There is no requirement to cease employment. The pension is reduced if the pension and salary combined exceed a certain limit. The reduction is greater for those aged&nbsp;60 to 64 than for those aged&nbsp;65 to 70.</p>
<p>Dependent supplement: Payable for a dependent spouse under age&nbsp;65. When the spouse reaches age&nbsp;65 and receives a pension in his or her own right under the national pension program, the supplement ceases. Payable for children up to the end of the fiscal year in which they reach age&nbsp;18 (age&nbsp;20 if disabled).</p>
<h4>Disability pension</h4>
<p><span class="h5">National pension program:</span> Total disability requiring constant attendance (Class&nbsp;I) or a degree of disability that severely restricts the person's ability to live independently (Class&nbsp;II). Contributions must have been paid or credited during 2/3 of the period between age&nbsp;20 and the onset of disability. Credited contributions may be awarded to low-income or disabled persons or for those receiving public aid. The pension amount is reduced for credited contribution periods.</p>
<p>Dependent supplement: Payable for children up to the end of the fiscal year in which they reach age&nbsp;18 (age&nbsp;20 if disabled).</p>
<p><span class="h5">Employees' pension insurance:</span> Total disability requiring constant attendance (Class&nbsp;I) or a degree of disability that severely restricts the person's ability to live independently (Class&nbsp;II). Contributions must have been paid or credited during 2/3 of the period between age&nbsp;20 and the onset of disability. Credited contributions may be awarded to low-income or disabled persons or for those receiving public aid. The pension amount is reduced for credited contribution periods. A pension (Class&nbsp;III) may be awarded for a disability less severe than that of Class II.</p>
<p>Dependent supplement: Payable to persons with a Class&nbsp;I or II disability for a dependent spouse under age&nbsp;65. When the spouse reaches age&nbsp;65 and receives a pension in his or her own right under the national pension program, the supplement ceases.</p>
<p><span class="h5">Disability grant (employees' pension insurance):</span> Payable for an assessed degree of disability lower than Class&nbsp;III. Contributions must have been paid or credited during 2/3 of the period between age&nbsp;20 and the onset of disability. Credited contributions may be awarded to low-income or disabled persons or for those receiving public aid. The pension amount is reduced for credited contribution periods.</p>
<h4>Survivor pension</h4>
<p><span class="h5">National pension program:</span> The deceased was an old-age or disability pensioner or was insured at the time of death with contributions paid or credited during 2/3 of the period between age&nbsp;20 and the date of death.</p>
<p>Dependent supplement: Payable for children up to the end of the fiscal year in which they reach age&nbsp;18 (age&nbsp;20 if disabled).</p>
<p>Eligible survivors include the widow living with, and caring for, the deceased's children up to the end of the fiscal year in which the child reaches age&nbsp;18 (age&nbsp;20 if disabled), and the children of the deceased up to the end of the fiscal year in which the child reaches age&nbsp;18 (age&nbsp;20 if disabled).</p>
<p><span class="h5">Death grant (national pension program):</span> The deceased was not an old-age or disability pensioner at the time of death and had paid at least 3&nbsp;years of contributions.</p>
<p><span class="h5">Employees' pension insurance:</span> The deceased satisfied the conditions for the old-age or disability (Class&nbsp;I or II) pension or was insured at the time of death with contributions paid or credited during 2/3 of the period between age&nbsp;20 and the date of death.</p>
<p>Eligible survivors may include a widow, a widower older than age&nbsp;55, children or grandchildren up to the end of the fiscal year in which the child reaches age&nbsp;18 (age&nbsp;20 if disabled), and parents or grandparents older than age&nbsp;55, if they were financially dependent on the deceased at the time of death. The pension is paid to the first eligible survivor in the following order of priority: widowed mother, children, childless widow, widower, parents, grandparents, and grandchildren.</p>
<p>Dependent supplement: Paid to a surviving parent or the eldest child for children up to the end of the fiscal year in which the child reaches age&nbsp;18 (age&nbsp;20 if disabled).</p>
<h3>Old-Age Benefits</h3>
<p><span class="h4">National pension program (old-age):</span> If fully insured (480&nbsp;months of paid contributions), the pension is 794,500&nbsp;yen a year. If not fully insured, the pension is reduced proportionately according to the number of contributions paid and credited. The pension is paid every 2&nbsp;months.</p>
<p>Early pension: For those born on or after April&nbsp;2, 1941, the reduction is 0.5% times the number of months between the date of application and age&nbsp;65. For older cohorts, the benefit is actuarially reduced by between 42% and 11%, depending on the age at which the pension is taken between ages&nbsp;60 and 64.</p>
<p>Deferred pension: For those born on or after April&nbsp;2, 1941, the increase is 0.7% times the number of months between age&nbsp;65 and the month of application. For older cohorts, the pension due at age&nbsp;65 is increased by between 12% and 88%, depending on the age at which the pension is taken between ages&nbsp;66 and 70.</p>
<p>Dependent supplement: Paid directly to a qualifying spouse aged&nbsp;65 or older. The supplement ranges from 15,300&nbsp;yen to 228,600&nbsp;yen a year, depending on the spouse's age.</p>
<p>Benefit adjustment: Automatic annual adjustment for changes in the cost of living.</p>
<p><span class="h4">Employees' pension insurance (old-age):</span> The insured's indexed average monthly wage over the full career times a coefficient determined by the insured's date of birth times the number of months of coverage. The pension is paid every 2&nbsp;months.</p>
<p>Pensioners between ages&nbsp;60 and 64 receive an additional 1,676&nbsp;yen a month for each month of coverage. (This additional amount is replaced by the national pension at age&nbsp;65.)</p>
<p>Working pensioner: The pension is reduced by 20% for continued employment between ages&nbsp;60 and 64 if the combined total of the monthly wage and 80% of the pension is under 280,000&nbsp;yen; if the combined total is between 280,000&nbsp;yen and 480,000&nbsp;yen, the pension is reduced by 1&nbsp;yen for every 2&nbsp;yen earned; if the combined total exceeds 480,000&nbsp;yen a month, the pension is reduced by 100% of wages over 480,000&nbsp;yen.</p>
<p>Dependent supplement: 228,600&nbsp;yen a year for a spouse; 228,600&nbsp;yen a year for each of the first two children and 76,200&nbsp;yen a year for each subsequent child up to the end of the fiscal year in which the child reaches age&nbsp;18 (age&nbsp;20 if disabled).</p>
<p>Benefit adjustment: Automatic annual adjustment for changes in the cost of living.</p>
<h3>Permanent Disability Benefits</h3>
<p><span class="h4">National pension program (disability):</span> 993,100&nbsp;yen a year for a Class&nbsp;I disability or 794,500&nbsp;yen a year for a Class&nbsp;II disability.</p>
<p>Dependent supplement: 228,600&nbsp;yen a year for each of the first two children and 76,200&nbsp;yen a year for each subsequent child up to the end of the fiscal year in which the child reaches age&nbsp;18 (age&nbsp;20 if disabled).</p>
<p>Benefits are paid every 2&nbsp;months.</p>
<p>Benefit adjustment: Automatic annual adjustment for changes in the cost of living.</p>
<p><span class="h4">Employees' pension insurance (disability):</span> For a Class&nbsp;I disability, 125% of the old-age pension plus additional benefits for dependents; for Class&nbsp;II, 100% of the old-age pension plus additional benefits for dependents; and for Class&nbsp;III, 100% of the old-age pension. For younger disabled persons with less than 300&nbsp;months of coverage, the contribution period is counted as 300&nbsp;months.</p>
<p>The minimum benefit is 596,000&nbsp;yen a year.</p>
<p>The maximum benefit is based on the earnings limit for contribution purposes according to the wage class.</p>
<p>Dependent supplement: 228,600&nbsp;yen a year for a spouse.</p>
<p>Benefits are paid every 2&nbsp;months.</p>
<p><span class="h4">Disability grant:</span> A lump sum equal to 200% of the old-age pension. The minimum lump sum is 1,206,400&nbsp;yen.</p>
<p>Benefit adjustment: Automatic annual adjustment for changes in the cost of living.</p>
<h3>Survivor Benefits</h3>
<p><span class="h4">National pension program (survivor):</span> 794,500&nbsp;yen a year for a widow. (No benefit is payable for a widower.)</p>
<p>Dependent supplement: 228,600&nbsp;yen a year for each of the first two children and 76,200&nbsp;yen a year for each additional child up to the end of the fiscal year in which the child reaches age&nbsp;18 (age&nbsp;20 if disabled).</p>
<p>Full orphan: The benefit is the same as for a widow plus dependent supplements and is divided equally among all eligible orphans.</p>
<p>Benefits are paid every 2&nbsp;months.</p>
<p><span class="h4">Death grant:</span> A lump sum of between 120,000&nbsp;yen and 320,000&nbsp;yen, according to the length of the period of paid contributions between 3 and 35&nbsp;years.</p>
<p>Benefit adjustment: Automatic annual adjustment for changes in the cost of living.</p>
<p><span class="h4">Employees' pension insurance (survivor):</span> 75% of the old-age pension is payable for the death of an insured worker. The pension is paid to the first eligible survivor in the following order of priority: widowed mother, children, childless widow, widower, parents, grandparents, and grandchildren.</p>
<p>Dependent supplement: 228,600&nbsp;yen a year for each of the first two children and 76,200&nbsp;yen for each additional child up to the end of the fiscal year in which the child reaches age&nbsp;18 (age&nbsp;20 if disabled). If there are no children, a supplement of 596,000&nbsp;yen a year is paid for a widow between ages&nbsp;40 and 65 if she was aged&nbsp;35 or older when the insured died.</p>
<p>Benefits are paid every 2&nbsp;months.</p>
<p>Benefit adjustment: Automatic annual adjustment for changes in the cost of living.</p>
<h3>Administrative Organization</h3>
<p>Pension Bureau of the Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare (http://www.mhlw.go.jp) provides general supervision of both programs.</p>
<p>Social Insurance Agency (http://www.sia.go.jp) administers both programs nationally.</p>
<p>Regional Social Insurance Bureaus and Social Insurance Offices (part of the Social Insurance Agency) administer contributions and benefits for both programs locally.</p>
<h2>Sickness and Maternity</h2>
<h3>Regulatory Framework</h3>
<p><span class="h4">First and current laws:</span> 1922 (employees' health insurance), implemented in 1927, with 1997 and 2000 amendments; 1938 (national health insurance), with 1958 and 1998 amendments; and 1982 (medical system for the elderly), implemented in 1983.</p>
<p><span class="h4">Type of program:</span> Social insurance system.</p>
<h3>Coverage</h3>
<p><span class="h4">National health insurance:</span> All residents not covered under employment-related health insurance or special schemes are covered under local government programs operated at the municipality, township, or village level.</p>
<p>Special national health insurance societies provide coverage for self-employed persons.</p>
<p><span class="h4">Employees' health insurance:</span> Employees of firms in industry and commerce with five or more employees are covered by the government-managed program, unless the insured is a member of an occupational health insurance society.</p>
<p>Voluntary coverage for employees in private-sector workplaces with less than five workers and for agricultural, forestry, or fishery workers.</p>
<p>Special systems for persons aged&nbsp;70 or older (medical system for the elderly), seamen, private-school employees, and civil servants.</p>
<h3>Source of Funds</h3>
<h4>Insured person</h4>
<p><span class="h5">National health insurance:</span> National health tax or premium is fixed by the individual carrier but must not exceed 530,000&nbsp;yen a year per household. (The average annual contribution in 2000 was 82,954&nbsp;yen per insured person, or 166,990&nbsp;yen per household.)</p>
<p>Premiums may be reduced by between 30% and 70% for qualifying low-income residents or for households in a program run by a municipality.</p>
<p><span class="h5">Employees' health insurance:</span> 4.1% of the basic monthly earnings including salary bonuses before tax, according to 39 wage classes (government-managed program). The annual average contribution in 1999 was 3.72% of basic monthly earnings including salary bonuses before tax, according to 39 wage classes (health insurance society).</p>
<p>The minimum monthly basic wage for contribution and benefit purposes is 92,000&nbsp;yen.</p>
<p>The maximum monthly basic wage for contribution and benefit purposes is 980,000&nbsp;yen.</p>
<p>The minimum and maximum earnings levels are adjusted on an ad hoc basis in line with any increase in the national average wage.</p>
<p><span class="h4">Self-employed person:</span> Covered by special national health insurance societies.</p>
<h4>Employer</h4>
<p><span class="h5">National health insurance:</span> None.</p>
<p><span class="h5">Employees' health insurance:</span> 4.1% of the basic monthly payroll including bonuses before tax, according to 39&nbsp;wage classes (government-managed program). The annual average contribution in 1999 was 4.786% of basic monthly payroll including bonuses before tax, according to 39&nbsp;wage classes (health insurance society).</p>
<p>The minimum monthly basic wage for contribution and benefit purposes is 92,000&nbsp;yen.</p>
<p>The maximum monthly basic wage for contribution and benefit purposes is 980,000&nbsp;yen.</p>
<p>The minimum and maximum earnings levels are adjusted on an ad hoc basis in line with any increase in the national average wage.</p>
<h4>Government</h4>
<p><span class="h5">National health insurance:</span> 50% of the cost of medical care, the cost of administration, and some local subsidies.</p>
<p><span class="h5">Employees' health insurance:</span> 13.0% of benefit costs, 16.4% of the cost of health care for the aged, and the cost of administration for the government-managed program as well as part of the cost of administration for health insurance societies.</p>
<h3>Qualifying Conditions</h3>
<p><span class="h4">National health insurance (medical benefits):</span> Residence in a municipality, township, or village.</p>
<p><span class="h4">Employees' health insurance (sickness, maternity, and medical benefits):</span> In covered employment. If an insured person leaves employment but was in covered employment during the previous 12&nbsp;months, sickness and maternity benefits are continued for the normal duration of entitlement; medical care for the same insured person can be provided for up to 5&nbsp;years from the first date of treatment.</p>
<p>Eligible dependents for medical benefits are spouses, parents, grandparents, younger sisters and brothers, children, and grandchildren whether or not residing with the insured person; and fathers and mothers-in-law, uncles, aunts, nephews, nieces, and older brothers and sisters, provided they are residing with the insured person.</p>
<p><span class="h4">Birth grant:</span> Paid to an insured person or the wife of an insured person whose pregnancy lasts 4&nbsp;months or more.</p>
<p><span class="h4">Funeral grant:</span> Paid to the person who organizes the funeral of the deceased insured.</p>
<h3>Sickness and Maternity Benefits</h3>
<p><span class="h4">National health insurance:</span> No cash benefits are provided by law, but all insurance carriers provide lump-sum death and birth grants.</p>
<p><span class="h4">Employees' health insurance (sickness benefit):</span> 60% of the average daily basic wage, according to wage class. The benefit is payable after a <span class="nobr">3-day</span> waiting period for up to 18&nbsp;months or until the determination of disability. Health insurance societies may provide more generous benefits.</p>
<p><span class="h4">Maternity benefit:</span> 60% of the average daily basic wage according to wage class is paid for 42&nbsp;days before (98&nbsp;days for expected multiple births) and 56&nbsp;days after the expected date of childbirth. The payment of benefit is discontinued or reduced partially if the mother is receiving a wage or cash sickness benefit.</p>
<p><span class="h4">Birth grant:</span> A lump sum of 300,000&nbsp;yen.</p>
<p><span class="h4">Funeral grant:</span> A lump sum of 100,000&nbsp;yen is paid to a deceased person's dependent who organizes the funeral. If there is no dependent, the actual funeral expenses up to the limit of the deceased's basic wage for contribution purposes is paid to the person who organizes the funeral.</p>
<h3>Workers' Medical Benefits</h3>
<p><span class="h4">National health insurance:</span> Medical care and treatment is usually provided by clinics, hospitals, and pharmacists under contract with, and paid by, the insurance carrier (some carriers provide services directly through their own clinics and hospitals). Benefits include medical treatment, surgery, hospitalization, nursing care, dental care, maternity care (only for a difficult childbirth), and medicines.</p>
<p>There is no limit to duration.</p>
<p>Cost sharing: The amount depends on the person's age: under age&nbsp;3, 20% of the cost; ages&nbsp;3 to 69, 30% of the cost; aged&nbsp;70 or older, 10% of the cost or 20% for those with an income of 1,240,000&nbsp;yen or more.</p>
<p>Inpatients also pay a daily fee toward the cost of food. The daily fee for food depends on family income and the duration of the hospital stay.</p>
<p><span class="h4">Employees' health insurance:</span> Medical benefits are the same as under national health insurance.</p>
<p>Cost sharing: The amount depends on the person's age: under age&nbsp;3, 20% of the cost; ages&nbsp;3 to 69, 30% of the cost; aged&nbsp;70 or older, 10% of the cost or 20% for those with an income of 1,240,000&nbsp;yen or more.</p>
<p>Inpatients also pay a daily fee toward the cost of food. The daily fee for food depends on family income and the duration of the hospital stay.</p>
<h3>Dependents' Medical Benefits</h3>
<p><span class="h4">National health insurance:</span> Same as for the insured person.</p>
<p><span class="h4">Employees' health insurance:</span> Same as for the insured person.</p>
<h3>Administrative Organization</h3>
<p>Health Insurance Bureau of the Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare (http://www.mhlw.go.jp) supervises both programs.</p>
<p><span class="h4">National health insurance:</span> Local administration is provided mainly by municipal health insurance funds. The National Health Insurance societies provide administration for some insured persons, including the self-employed. National Health Insurance provides medical benefits.</p>
<p><span class="h4">Employees' health insurance:</span> Social Insurance Agency (http://www.sia.go.jp) provides the national administration for the government-managed program. Regional Social Insurance Bureaus and Social Insurance Offices administer the program locally. Employees' Health Insurance provides cash and medical benefits. For programs managed by Health Insurance Societies, insurance divisions of prefecture departments and 1,756 Health Insurance Societies provide local administration for affiliated workers.</p>
<h2>Work Injury</h2>
<h3>Regulatory Framework</h3>
<p><span class="h4">First law:</span> 1911.</p>
<p><span class="h4">Current law:</span> 1947 (workmen's accident compensation insurance), with 1980, 1986, 1995, and 2000 amendments.</p>
<p><span class="h4">Type of program:</span> Social insurance system.</p>
<h3>Coverage</h3>
<p>Employees of all firms in industry and commerce not included under voluntary coverage or special schemes.</p>
<p>Voluntary coverage for employees in agricultural, forestry, and fishery establishments with less than five workers.</p>
<p>Special systems for seamen and civil servants.</p>
<h3>Source of Funds</h3>
<p><span class="h4">Insured person:</span> None.</p>
<p><span class="h4">Self-employed person:</span> Not applicable.</p>
<p><span class="h4">Employer:</span> 0.55% to 13.5% of payroll, according to a <span class="nobr">3-year</span> accident rate.</p>
<p><span class="h4">Government:</span> Subsidies, set within the limits of the national budget.</p>
<h3>Qualifying Conditions</h3>
<p><span class="h4">Work injury benefits:</span> There is no minimum qualifying period.</p>
<h3>Temporary Disability Benefits</h3>
<p>60% of the insured's average daily wage in the preceding 3&nbsp;months plus a temporary disability supplement equal to 20% of the insured's average daily wage. The benefit is payable after a <span class="nobr">3-day</span> waiting period until the end of the 18th month (the employer pays 60% of the average daily wage for the first 3&nbsp;days).</p>
<p>The minimum daily benefit is 4,160&nbsp;yen.</p>
<p>The maximum daily benefit is 23,620&nbsp;yen.</p>
<p>Benefit adjustment: Automatic quarterly adjustment for wage changes higher than 10% from the previous quarter.</p>
<p>From the 19th month, less severely disabled persons receive the same level of benefit as before until recovery; more severely disabled persons receive the injury and disease compensation pension (annual benefit is equal to 100% of the average daily wage in the preceding 3&nbsp;months multiplied by between 245 and 313&nbsp;days until recovery, according to the degree of disability), plus a special supplement based on the worker's annual salary bonus.</p>
<p>Benefits are paid every 2&nbsp;months.</p>
<p>Benefit adjustment: Automatic annual adjustment for wage changes.</p>
<h3>Permanent Disability Benefits</h3>
<p><span class="h4">Permanent disability pension:</span> Seriously disabled persons (assessed according to grades&nbsp;1 to 7 of disability) receive an annual pension of between 131 and 313&nbsp;times their average daily wage in the preceding 3&nbsp;months. The pension varies with the assessed degree of disability.</p>
<p>Less seriously disabled persons (assessed according to grades&nbsp;8 to 14 of disability) receive a lump-sum benefit of between 56 and 503&nbsp;times their average daily wage in the preceding 3&nbsp;months. The pension varies with the assessed degree of disability.</p>
<p>Constant-attendance allowance (assessed grades of disability 1 and 2): 106,100&nbsp;yen a month if requiring full-time care (57,580&nbsp;yen if the care is provided by family members); 53,050&nbsp;yen a month if requiring part-time care (28,790&nbsp;yen if the care is provided by family members).</p>
<p>Benefits are paid every 2&nbsp;months.</p>
<p>Benefit adjustment: Automatic annual adjustment for wage changes.</p>
<h3>Workers' Medical Benefits</h3>
<p>Benefits include medical treatment, surgery, hospitalization, nursing, dental care, medicines, appliances, and transportation.</p>
<p>There is no limit on the duration of benefits.</p>
<h3>Survivor Benefits</h3>
<p><span class="h4">Survivor pension:</span> An annual pension equal to the insured's average daily wage in the preceding 3&nbsp;months multiplied by between 153 and 245&nbsp;days, according to number of survivors.</p>
<p>Eligible survivors include a widow or widower (aged&nbsp;60 or older), children and grandchildren (up to the end of the fiscal year in which the child reaches age&nbsp;18), parents and grandparents (aged&nbsp;60 or older), and dependent brothers and sisters up to the end of the fiscal year in which the child reaches age&nbsp;18; or aged&nbsp;60 or older.</p>
<p>Benefits are paid every 2&nbsp;months.</p>
<p>Benefit adjustment: Automatic annual adjustment for wage changes.</p>
<p><span class="h4">Death grant (if no eligible survivors):</span> A lump sum equal to the insured's average daily wage in the preceding 3&nbsp;months multiplied by 1,000&nbsp;days is payable to a nondependent survivor.</p>
<p><span class="h4">Funeral grant:</span> 60&nbsp;days of the insured's average daily wage in the 3&nbsp;months preceding death or 315,000&nbsp;yen plus 30&nbsp;days' wages, whichever is higher.</p>
<h3>Administrative Organization</h3>
<p>Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare (http://www.mhlw.go.jp) provides general supervision and administration.</p>
<p>Worker's Compensation Division within the Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare's Bureau of Labor Standards administers the program through prefecture labor standards offices and local labor standards inspection offices.</p>
<h2>Unemployment</h2>
<h3>Regulatory Framework</h3>
<p><span class="h4">First law:</span> 1947.</p>
<p><span class="h4">Current law:</span> 1975 (employment insurance), with 2003 amendment.</p>
<p><span class="h4">Type of program:</span> Social insurance system.</p>
<h3>Coverage</h3>
<p>Employees younger than age&nbsp;65.</p>
<p>Voluntary coverage for employees in firms in the agricultural, forestry, and fisheries industries with less than five regular employees.</p>
<p>Exclusions: Seasonal workers whose term of employment is 4&nbsp;months or less.</p>
<p>Special schemes for casual workers, seamen, and civil servants.</p>
<h3>Source of Funds</h3>
<p><span class="h4">Insured person:</span> 0.7% of earnings; 0.8% for agricultural, forestry, fishery, or construction workers.</p>
<p><span class="h4">Self-employed person:</span> Not applicable.</p>
<p><span class="h4">Employer:</span> 1.05% of payroll; 1.15% of payroll for agricultural, forestry and fishery workers; and 1.25% of payroll for construction workers.</p>
<p><span class="h4">Government:</span> 25% (33.3% for daily workers) of the cost of benefits for unemployment benefit and special monthly allowance and 12.5% of the cost for newborn child and older worker allowances. The government provides subsidies to employers to reduce the need to lay off employees, to encourage the hiring of hard-to-employ older workers, and to finance other measures to reduce unemployment.</p>
<h3>Qualifying Conditions</h3>
<p><span class="h4">Unemployment benefit:</span> Six months of insurance during the last 12&nbsp;months (or 1&nbsp;year of insurance during the last 2&nbsp;years for part-time workers). Must be registered with the Public Employment Security Office and be capable of, and willing to, work. The unemployed person must report to the Public Employment Security Office once every 4&nbsp;weeks. Unemployment is not due to voluntary leaving, serious misconduct, refusal of a suitable job offer, or nonattendance at recommended training (otherwise, the insured is disqualified from receiving benefit for between 1 and 3&nbsp;months).</p>
<p>Special daily or monthly allowances: Includes vocational training, transportation, moving, and lodging expenses. The allowances are payable while in training and while seeking employment outside of the immediate commuting area as well as to meet other costs. The insured must have at least 3&nbsp;years of coverage to receive vocational training.</p>
<p><span class="h4">Older worker allowance:</span> Paid to insured persons between ages&nbsp;60 and 64 whose wage has been reduced by 75% from the wage at age&nbsp;60.</p>
<p><span class="h4">Newborn child allowance:</span> Paid to one of two working parents who care for a newborn child for up to 1&nbsp;year. There is no requirement to seek work while receiving this benefit.</p>
<p><span class="h4">Family care leave benefit:</span> Payable for a maximum of 3&nbsp;months if the insured takes leave to look after one of his or her family members.</p>
<h3>Unemployment Benefits</h3>
<p>Between 50% and 80% of the insured's average daily wage (higher percentages are awarded to lower-wage earners) in the 6&nbsp;months preceding unemployment; 45% to 80% if between ages&nbsp;60 and 64. The benefit is payable after a <span class="nobr">7-day</span> waiting period for between 90 and 150&nbsp;days, according to the length of coverage, age, reasons for unemployment, and employment prospects. Additional days of benefit are payable for between 30&nbsp;days and 210&nbsp;days if the insured becomes unemployed from an industry in recession, is suffering from physical or mental illness, or is undergoing training.</p>
<p>The minimum daily benefit is 1,696&nbsp;yen.</p>
<p>The maximum daily benefit is 7,935&nbsp;yen.</p>
<p><span class="h4">Older worker allowance:</span> The amount of benefits is equal to a maximum of 15% of the wage after age&nbsp;60, depending on the percentage of wage reduction.</p>
<p><span class="h4">Newborn child allowance:</span> The employment fund pays a monthly benefit equal to 30% of the insured's average daily wage in the 6&nbsp;months before the leave period times&nbsp;30.</p>
<p><span class="h4">Family care leave benefit:</span> 40% of the insured's wage before the leave period.</p>
<p><span class="h4">Special daily or monthly allowances:</span> Allowances are provided for vocational training, transportation, moving and lodging expenses while in training, seeking employment outside the immediate commuting area, and other costs.</p>
<h3>Administrative Organization</h3>
<p>Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare (http://www.mhlw.go.jp) provides general supervision.</p>
<p>Employment Security Bureau in the Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare is responsible for the national administration of the program.</p>
<p>Employment Insurance Sections of prefecture Labor Departments and Public Employment Security Offices (part of the Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare) are responsible for the local administration of the program and the collection of contributions.</p>
<h2>Family Allowances</h2>
<h3>Regulatory Framework</h3>
<p><span class="h4">First and current law:</span> 1971 (children's allowance), implemented in 1972, with 1981, 1985, 1991, 1994, 2000, and 2004 amendments.</p>
<p><span class="h4">Type of program:</span> Employer-liability and social assistance system.</p>
<h3>Coverage</h3>
<p>Residents with one or more children under age&nbsp;9.</p>
<h3>Source of Funds</h3>
<p><span class="h4">Insured person:</span> None.</p>
<p><span class="h4">Self-employed person:</span> None.</p>
<h4>Employer</h4>
<p><span class="h5">Children's allowance:</span> 70% of the cost (about 0.09% of wages) for children under age&nbsp;3.</p>
<p><span class="h5">Special allowance:</span> 100% of the cost for children under age&nbsp;3.</p>
<h4>Government</h4>
<p><span class="h5">Children's allowance:</span> National Treasury, 20% of the cost for employees' children under age&nbsp;3; prefecture, 5%; and city or town, 5%. National Treasury, 66.6% of the cost for employees' children between ages&nbsp;3 and 9; prefecture, 16.6%; and city or town, 16.6%. National Treasury, 66.6% of the cost for self-employed and unemployed persons' children between ages&nbsp;0 and 9; prefecture, 16.6%; and city or town, 16.6%.</p>
<p><span class="h5">Special allowance:</span> National Treasury, 66.6% of the cost for employees' children between ages&nbsp;3 and 9; prefecture, 16.6%; and city or town, 16.6%.</p>
<h3>Qualifying Conditions</h3>
<h4>Family allowances</h4>
<p><span class="h5">Children's allowance:</span> For a family of four, the parent's income must be less than 5,963,000&nbsp;yen in the previous year. Paid for children under age&nbsp;9.</p>
<p><span class="h5">Special allowance:</span> For a family of four, allowances are provided for private and public employees with income of more than 5,963,000&nbsp;yen but less than 7,800,000&nbsp;yen in the previous year.</p>
<h3>Family Allowance Benefits</h3>
<h4>Family allowances</h4>
<p><span class="h5">Children's allowance:</span> 5,000&nbsp;yen a month for each of the first two children and 10,000&nbsp;yen a month for each subsequent child.</p>
<p><span class="h5">Special allowance:</span> 5,000&nbsp;yen a month for each of the first two children and 10,000&nbsp;yen a month for each subsequent child.</p>
<p>Allowances are paid every 4&nbsp;months (in February, June, and October) based on eligibility in January, May, and September, respectively.</p>
<p>Benefit adjustment: Benefits are adjusted on an ad hoc basis.</p>
<h3>Administrative Organization</h3>
<p>Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare (http://www.mhlw.go.jp) supervises the program through its Equal Employment, Children, and Families Bureau.</p>
<p>Insurance division of prefecture Welfare Department and Social Insurance Office collects contributions.</p>
<p>City or town delivers allowances.</p>
</div>
</article>
<nav>
<div class="docNav"><a class="previous" href="israel.html">Previous: Israel</a>&nbsp;<a class="toTop" href="#hLogo">Top of page</a>&nbsp;<a class="toTOC" href="index.html#fileList">Table of contents</a>&nbsp;<a class="next" href="jordan.html">Next: Jordan</a></div>
</nav>
<footer><div id="footer">
<div class="important-info"><h4>Important Information:</h4>
<ul><li><a href="/agency/">About Us</a></li>
<li><a href="/accessibility/">Accessibility</a></li>
<li><a href="/foia/">FOIA</a></li>
<li><a href="/open/">Open Government</a></li>
<li><a href="/agency/glossary/">Glossary</a></li>
<li><a href="/privacy/">Privacy</a></li>
<li><a href="https://oig.ssa.gov/report/">Report Fraud, Waste or Abuse</a></li>
<li><a href="/agency/websitepolicies.html">Website Policies</a></li></ul>
</div>
<p class="align-center margin-top">This website is produced and published at U.S. taxpayer expense.</p>
</div></footer>
<!-- SSA INTERNET BODY SCRIPTS -->
<script src="/policy/js/rspa.doc.js"></script>
<script src="/policy/js/rspa-shared.js"></script>
<script src="/framework/js/ssa.internet.body.js"></script>
</body></html>