Social Insurance Agency：National Pension

The National Pension is a basic public pension system which is designed to provide people with the common pension benefits called “Basic Pension”.

Coverage

	*Compulsory Coverage*

		You must be covered by the National Pension system which will provide you with Basic Pension benefits, and you will be categorized according to your status as follows:

		- Category Ⅰ insured persons: All registered residents of Japan aged 20 or
					over but under 60, except for the Category Ⅱ or Ⅲ insured persons. The persons include in the Category are mainly, self-employed persons, freelance workers and students as well as their spouses

		- Category Ⅱ insured persons: Persons enrolled in the Employees’ Pension
					Insurance system or Mutual Aid Association (except for persons aged 65 or over but under 70 who are eligible to receive pension due to old age or retirement)

		- Category Ⅲ insured persons: Category Ⅱ insured person’s dependent
					spouses aged 20 or over but under 60

		How to Enroll in the System and Register yourself under each Category

		When you become subject to the Category Ⅰ insured person, you need to register yourself at your Municipal Office within 14 days, by submitting “Application to Enroll in the National Pension for the Category Ⅰ insured persons” (SHIKAKU SHUTOKU TODOKE - ICHIGO HIHOKENSHA) When you become subject to the Category Ⅱ insured person, your employer needs to enroll you in the Employees’ Pension Insurance or the Mutual Aid Associations. Within the procedure you are automatically enrolled in the National Pension, so no extra procedure is necessary. When you become subject to the Category Ⅲ insured person, you need to ask your spouse’s employer to register you at the Social Insurance Office within 14 days, by submitting “Application to Enroll in the National Pension for the Category Ⅲ insured persons” (SHIKAKU SHUTOKU TODOKE - SANGO HIHOKENSHA).

	*Voluntary Coverage*

		The following persons can enroll in the National Pension on a voluntary basis:

			(1)	Persons aged 20 or over but under 60 who are receiving the old-age (retirement) pension from the Employees' Pension Insurance or the Mutual-Aid Association
			(2)	Self-employed persons aged 60 or over but under 65 who have not satisfied the minimum qualification period for benefits or who have not reached maximum insured period to be eligible for full benefits
			(3)	Japanese citizens aged 20 or over but under 65 who are living overseas
			(4)	Persons born before April 1, 1965, aged 65 or over but under 70 who have not satisfied the minimum qualification period

		How to Voluntarily Enroll and Register yourself

		If you are subject to the above, except (3), you need to register yourself at the Municipal Office. If you are subject to (3) above, you may register yourself at the Social Insurance Office in charge of your latest residence in Japan. If you have never lived in Japan, you may register yourself at the Chiyoda Social Insurance Office.

Benefits

Old-age Basic Pension

You can receive the Old-age Basic Pension at the age of 65 if you have been covered under the National Pension and Employees’ Insurance systems. To satisfy contribution requirements, your total insurable periods* need to be 25 years or more.

Your total insurable periods include your contribution-paid period, contribution-exempted period and other qualifying period when you are covered as the Category Ⅰ, Category Ⅱ or Category Ⅲ insured persons.

Benefit Amount

\792,100 / year (full benefit amount for 40 years of contribution payment)

If you have not contributed or have been exempted from payment, the amount is:

\792,100 x (①+②+③+④+⑤) / 40 years * x 12

①

Number of contribution-paid months

②

Number of full contribution-exempted months** x 1/3

③

Number of three-quarter contribution-exempted months** x 1/2

④

Number of half contribution-exempted months** x 2/3

⑤

Number of one-quarter contribution-exempted months** x 5/6

Shorter for some people, depending on date of birth

Depending on your income or according to the National Pension Law, you may be granted an exemption of full- or partial- amount of contribution payment.

How to Claim Your Old-age Basic Pension

To claim your benefit, you need to file the “Claim for the Old-age Benefits under the National Pension / Employees’ Pension Insurance” (KOKUMIN NENKIN / KOSEI NENKIN HOKEN - ROREI KYUFU SAITEI SEIKYUSHO) at your nearest Social Insurance Office (including one in a Social Insurance Bureau) or the Pension Consultation Center. You need to attach your Pension Handbook and a certified extract copy of your Family Registry. Please ask at these Offices for the details of your necessary documents of evidence.

Option of “Early Payment” or “Delayed Payment”

The pensionable age for the Old-age Basic Pension is 65 in principle. However, you may opt to receive pension at whatever age after 60. The pension amount varies depending on the time when you claim and receive your pension. Your pension reduces when you opt to receive benefits before 65 and increases when you opt to receive benefits after 65 compared to your pension receivable at the age of 65. Specifically, your pension receivable at the age of 60 is 70 % of that for age 65 and your pension receivable at the age of 70 or older is 142 %. Please note that once you receive your payment, the receivable rate will not change. In addition, if you apply for early payment of the Old-age Basic Pension, you may not apply for the Disability Basic Pension.

How to Apply for the “Early Payment” or “Delayed Payment”

Early Payment

If you opt for the early payment of your Old-Age Basic Pension, you need to attach the “Application for Early Payment of the Old-Age Basic Pension under the National Pension” (KOKUMIN NENKIN ROREI KISO NENKIN SHIKYU KURIAGE SEIKYUSHO) when you file the main claim form to your nearest Social Insurance Office (including one in a Social Insurance Bureau) or the Pension Consultation Center. If you are currently receiving your specially-provided Old-age Employees’ Pension, you need to submit “Application for Early Payment of the Old-Age Basic Pension for the Beneficiaries of the Specially-provided Old-age Employees’ Pension under the National Pension / the Employees’ Pension Insurance” (KOKUMIN NENKIN / KOSEI NENKIN HOKEN - TOKUBETSU SHIKYUNO ROREI KOSEI NENKIN JUKYUKENSHA ROREI KISO NENKIN SHIKYU KURIAGE SEIKYUSHO) to the same office.

Delayed Payment

If you opt for the delayed payment of your Old-Age Basic Pension, you need to attach the “Application for Delayed Payment of the Old-Age Basic Pension under the National Pension / Old-age Employees’ Pension under the Employees’ Pension Insurance” (KOKUMIN NENKIN ROREI KISO NENKIN KOSEI NENKIN HOKEN ROREI KOSEI NENKIN SHIKYU KURISAGE SEIKYUSHO) when you file the main claim form to your nearest Social Insurance Office (including one in a Social Insurance Bureau) or the Pension Consultation Center. If you are already receiving your specially-provided Old-age Employees’ Pension, you need to submit “Application for Delayed Payment of the Old-Age Basic / Employees’ Pension under the National Pension / the Employees’ Pension Insurance” (KOKUMIN NENKIN / KOSEI NENKIN HOKEN - ROREI KISO / KOSEI NENKIN SHIKYU KURISAGE SEIKYUSHO) to the same office.

Additional Pension Plan

There is an extra voluntary plan to pay a small additional benefit to your Old-age Basic Pension. If you opt for this plan and pay the contribution of \400 / month, you can receive additional benefit, which is subject to early / delayed payment option. However, this contribution is not subject to the Lump-sum Withdrawal Payments.

Benefit Amount

The annual amount is \200 × Number of month to which the Additional Contribution was paid.

Disability Basic Pension

You can receive the Disability Basic Pension when you have a certain level of disability specified by law. To be eligible, you must be covered by the National Pension Insurance system on the date of your first medical examination on the sickness or injury which caused above-mentioned your disability.

To satisfy contribution requirements, as of the previous day of (the date of) your first medical examination, your contribution-paid periods and contribution-exempted periods need to be more than two thirds of your total insurable periods up to two months prior to your first medical examination month. If the date of your first medical examination is before March 2016, you need to satisfy the above-mentioned requirements or to fill the proceeding one year with the contribution-paid or contribution-exempted period.

Benefit Amount

Grade 1 Disability Basic Pension: \990,100 / year

Grade 2 Disability Basic Pension: \792,100 / year

Additional annual benefits are paid as follows for your eligible dependent child(ren) under age 18 (20 if with certain grade of disability specified by law). The benefit is paid until the first March 31 after the child becomes age 18.

\227,900 each for your first and second child

\75,900 each for your third and subsequent child

How to Claim Your Disability Basic Pension

To claim your Disability Basic Pension, you need to file the “Claim for the Disability Basic Pension under the National Pension” (KOKUMIN NENKIN - SHOGAI KISO NENKIN SAITEI SEIKYUSHO) at your nearest Social Insurance Office (including one in a Social Insurance Bureau) or the Pension Consultation Center. You need to attach your Pension Handbook, a certified extract copy of your Family Registry, the certificate of diagnoses issued by your doctor, your X-ray film if necessary, as well as your report on your medical history and on how your disability affect your livelihood/work.　　Please contact these Social Insurance Offices for the details of your necessary documents of evidence.
If you had your first medial examination on your disability before you become 20 years old, or if you are aged over 60 but under 65 and living in Japan, you need to file the Claim form to your Municipal Office, instead of the Social Insurance Offices.

Survivors’ Basic Pension

If an insured person dies while contributing to the National Pension, his wife who takes care of his dependent child(ren), or his dependent child(ren) can receive the Survivors’ Basic Pension. The eligible child is aged 18 (until first March 31 after the 18th birthday), or under 20 if he/she has a certain grade of disability specified by law. To satisfy contribution requirements, at the day before his death, his contribution-paid periods and contribution-exempted periods need to be more than two thirds of his total insurable periods up to two months prior to his death. If the date of his death is before March 2016, he needs to satisfy the above-mentioned requirements or to fill the proceeding one year with the contribution-paid or contribution-exempted period.

Benefit Amount

Survivors’ Basic Pension for the deceased person’s wife taking care of one child:

\1,020,000 /year
(\792,100 + \227,900 (additional annual benefits for the first child))

Additional annual benefits for the second and subsequent child are as follows:

\227,900 for the second child

\75,900 each for the third and subsequent child

Survivors’ Basic Pension for the only child: \792,100 /year (basic amount)

If there are two eligible children, \227,900 is added to this basic amount and divided evenly between the two. For the third or subsequent eligible child, further \75,900 is added for each child and the grand benefit total is equally shared between all children.

How to Claim Your Survivors’ Basic Pension

To claim your Survivors’ Basic Pension, you need to file the “Claim for the Survivors’ Basic Pension under the National Pension” (KOKUMIN NENKIN - IZOKU KISO NENKIN SAITEI SEIKYUSHO) at your nearest Social Insurance Office (including one in a Social Insurance Bureau) or the Pension Consultation Center. You need to attach the deceased person’s Pension Handbook, a certified copy of his/her Family Registry, and the medical certificate of his/her death issued by the doctor. Please contact these Social Insurance Offices for the details of the necessary documents of evidence. If the deceased person has the coverage period only as a Category I insured person, or only as a Category III insured person, not the mix of I or III or any other, the claim need to be filed at the Municipal Office, instead of Social Insurance Offices.

Widow’s Pension

If your husband dies after contributing for at least 25 years as the Category Ⅰ insured person and if he has not yet received old-age pension, you can receive the Widow’s Pension while you are aged over 60 but under 65. You are quailed if you have been married to him for at least 10 years and you are financially supported by him at the time of his death.

Benefit Amount

Equivalent to your late husband’s unpaid Old-age Basic Pension (portion for the Category Ⅰ insured period) x 3/4

How to Claim Your Widow’s Pension

To claim your Widow’s Pension, you need to file the “Claim for the Widow’s Pension under the National Pension” (KOKUMIN NENKIN - KAFU NENKIN SAITEI SEIKYUSHO) at your nearest Municipal Office. You need to attach your deceased husband’s Pension Handbook, a certified extract copy of your (his) Family Registry, and a certified copy of your (his) Resident Registry. Please contact the nearest Social Insurance Office (including one in a Social Insurance Bureau) or the Pension Consultation Center for the details of your necessary documents of evidence.

Lump-sum Death Benefit

If an insured person dies without receiving any pension benefits, and if his/her total contribution-paid month and half number of the contribution-exempted months as a Category Ⅰ insured person add to at least 36 months, any family member who shared the livelihood with him/her can receive the Lump-sum.

Benefit Amount

\120,000 - \320,000 / year depending on the contribution paid periods of the deceased person

How to Claim Your Lump-sum Death Benefit

To claim your benefit, you need to file the “Claim for the Lump-sum Death Benefit” (SHIBO ICHIJIKIN SAITEI SEIKYUSHO) at your nearest Municipal Office. You need to attach the deceased person’s Pension Handbook, a certified extract copy of your (his/her) Family Registry, and a certified copy of your (his/her) Resident Registry. Please contact the nearest Social Insurance Office (including one in a Social Insurance Bureau) or the Pension Consultation Center for the details of your necessary documents of evidence.

Lump-sum Withdrawal Payments (Exclusively for Non-Japanese Citizens)

If you are not a Japanese citizen, you can claim the Payments after you leave Japan. You can claim the Payments if you have not received any pension benefits and if you have at least 6 months of coverage as a CategoryⅠunder the National Pension system. The covered months here mean a total of:

①number of your contribution-paid months;

②number of the third-quarter contribution-exempted months × 1/4;

③number of the half contribution-exempted months × 1/2;

④number of the one-quarter contribution-exempted months × 3/4.

You need to file a claim within 2 years after you leave Japan.

PLEASE NOTE that if you receive the Payments based on your coverage period, you can not use the same periods again to apply for the totalization benefits under the Social Security Agreement between other countries.
If you are from the country with which Japan has the Agreement, you are advised to consider well, before applying for the Payments, whether you would like to use your coverage periods under Japanese system either to claim for the Payments now or to claim later for the totalization benefits.

Payments Amount

You can find your payments amount as shown below, depending on the month for which you made the latest contribution payment.

If your last contribution is paid for the month between April 2005 and March 2008, your Payments amount is shown in the chart below.

Number of your contributed months (months)	Payments amount if:
Number of your contributed months (months)	Your last contribution is paid between Apr. 2007 - Mar. 2008	Your last contribution was paid between Apr. 2006 - Mar. 2007	Your last contribution was paid between Apr. 2005 - Mar. 2006
6 - 11	\42,300	\41,580	\40,740
12 - 17	\84,600	\83,160	\81,480
18 - 23	\126,900	\124,740	\122,220
24 - 29	\169,200	\166,320	\162,960
30 - 35	\211,500	\207,900	\203,700
36 -	\253,800	\249,480	\244,440

If your last contribution is made for the month of April 2008 and after:

Your Payments amount =	Each amount shown in the chart above for “Your last contribution is paid between Apr. 2005 - Mar. 2006”	x	Monthly contribution amount of the year of your last payment

			13,580 yen (Monthly contribution amount of the Fiscal Year 2005 *)

The monthly contribution amount for the National Pension was \13,300 from April 2004 to March 2005. The amount increases every April (first month of the Japanese fiscal year) from 2005 onward.

Application Form　-

The form includes information on the Payments in the language of English, Chinese, Korean, Portuguese, Spanish and Indonesian.

Contributions

		The contribution amount for the National Pension is \14,100/month (for the fiscal year 2007: to be increased every year).

	*Payment of the Contributions*

		You may pay the contribution at banks, post offices and convenience stores by using the payment notices sent to you from the Social Insurance Agency. You can take advantage of discount by opting for the advance payment through automatic bank remittance.

	*Exemption of the Contributions*

		You can apply for the exemption from contribution payments if you satisfy certain conditions specified by law, specifically, if you are receiving the Disability Basic Pension or the Public Assistance under the Livelihood Protection Act. You may also be exempt from contribution payment if the previous year’s income of you/your spouse/your home owner is low, and if your application is approved. The type of exemption is as follows: total amount exemption, three-fourths amount exemption (contributions payable: \3,530), half amount exemption (contributions payable: \7,050) and one-quarter amount exemption (contributions payable: \10,580). In calculation of your pension benefits, however, your period of total amount exemption will count as one-third of full contribution paid period, the three-fourths amount exemption as half, the half amount exemption as two-thirds and the one-quarter amount exemption as five-sixths. If you fail to pay the due contribution during the granted period, that will be considered to be non-payment rather than partial-exemption.

		How to Apply for Exemption

		To establish the exemption you need to apply at the Municipal Office to which you register yourself. You need to apply for the exemption every year.

	*Recovery of the Past Exempted-Contribution*

		If you were exempt from the due contribution payments in the past, you can retroactively recover the payments for those as old as 10 years. Please note that a specific index will be imposed on your past contribution amount when you recover the payments. That is, if you were granted the contribution exemption in a certain fiscal year (April to March) and you recover the contribution three or more fiscal years later, your old contribution amount is indexed by certain rate according to the age of the due contribution.

		How to Repay the Exempted Contribution

		For retroactive payments, please contact the Social Insurance Office (including one in a Social Insurance Bureau) or the Pension Consultation Center.

	*Special Payment System for Students*

		If you are a student (including night time schools) and your income is less than a certain amount, you may be allowed to postpone contribution payment if your application is approved. This granted period protects you just as the covered period does. So, if you become disabled or die during this granted period, the Disability Basic Pension or the Survivors’ Basic Pension will be provided if you satisfy the following conditions:
			(1)	By the second months preceding to the month of your accident, your contribution unpaid months are not more than 1/3 of your whole covered months.　　Or
			(2)	You paid your contributions for the last 12 months up to the second months preceding the month of your accident.

		This granted period counts as qualifying period for the Old-age Basic Pension, however, unless you have this period filled with actual contribution afterwards, this period will not be reflected to the old-age benefit amount. You can retroactively pay the postponed contribution in the same way as the “recovery of the past exempted-contribution” above.

		How to Apply for Special Payment System for Students

		To establish the exemption you need to apply at the Municipal Office to which you register yourself. The application form is available at the Municipal office or the Social Insurance Office (including one in a Social Insurance Bureau). You need to apply for this Special System every year.

	*Contribution Postponement System for Low Income Youth*

		If you are in your twenties and your/your spouse’s income is lower than a certain level, this system allows you to postpone your contribution payments. To establish your postponement, your application needs to be granted. The procedure and application are the same as those for the “Special Payment System for Students”.

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