To the general public and patients

Social welfare system

Disability pension

What is a disability pension?

The disability pension is a system whereby your living expenses are guaranteed, should it become necessary to forfeit your source of income due to illness or injury. In the case of HIV infection, application is made with the diagnostic report entitled "other disabilities". The type of disability pension will be determined in accordance to your pension plan at the time of initial consultation.

National Pension Plan

Disability Basic Pension payments will be made for first- and second-grade disabilities.

Welfare Pension (Mutual Aid Pension) Program

Disability Welfare Pension (Disability Mutual Aid Pension) payments will be made in addition to Disability Basic Pension payments. If the disability does not fall under eligibility for first- or second-grade Disability Basic Pension but meets a certain standard of disability, Disability Welfare Pension (Disability Mutual Aid Pension) payments will be made for third-grade disability. For moderate disabilities lower than third-grade (established disabilities), a disability allowance will be paid.

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Are there specific conditions for eligibility to receive disability pension?

All of the following conditions must be met in order to receive disability pension:

The grade of disability is higher than the government standard on the day 18 months have passed from initial medical consultation (day of disability assessment).
The patient was covered by a pension plan on the day of initial consultation. <Note>
The patient must have paid at least two-thirds of the premiums for the period of pension enrollment (including the period of exemption) up to the month before last to which the initial medical examination date belongs, by the day before the initial medical examination date. Or the patient has not failed to pay the premiums for the last one year until the month before last to which the initial medical examination date belongs.
The patient is under 65 years of age on the day of disability assessment (for Disability Basic Pension).

<Note> Persons under 20 at the time of initial consultation may apply after their 20th birthday (day of disability assessment if that day is within 18 months). There are limitations to the Disability Basic Pension Plan for those whose initial consultation was when they were younger than 20 years of age.

Please consult with social workers at your medical facility for details, as conditions vary.

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Can I receive pension payment without a disability certificate?

Even if you do not have a disability certificate, with the standard requirement, you will be eligible to receive pension. Pension requirements for grade of disability do not necessarily coincide with those of certificate requirements.

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How do I apply for disability pension?

Submit the required documents, etc., to the counter. The place to submit the documents differs depending on the type of pension plan you were enrolled in on the date of your first medical examination. For those whose first medical examination was during the period of Category Ⅲ insured person, the pension office with jurisdiction over the area of residence is the place to submit the request.

What you need to apply for disability pension

Necessary documents

Pension claim form (filled out in person)
Pension booklet or document stating basic pension number.
Extract of family register (Not required if you fill in your Individual Number called “My Number” on the pension claim form.)
Attending doctor's report (filled out by physician)
diagnostic report of present condition if not recognized with disability within three months of disability assessment date. Written formats differ according to disability. A diagnostic report titled "other disability" will be used for HIV patients.
Document showing proof of initial consultation (when submitting to a medical facility other than where initial consultation was made).
Medical History and Employment Status Application Form
daily activities filled out in person or by family member
Bank book
Other (as requested)

Place of Application

National Pension (Disability Basic Pension)
Insurance and Pension Division of the Municipal Office
Welfare Pension (Disability Welfare Pension)
Nearby Japan Pension Service (JPS) branch office or Pension consultation center on a street corner
Mutual Aid Pension
Mutual Aid Pension

After the submitted documents are inspected, they are sent to the Japan Pension Service, where they are reviewed according to the "National Pension and Employees' Pension Insurance Disability Certification Criteria" to determine if the applicant is eligible to receive a disability pension.

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How much is a disability pension payment?

National Pension (Disability Basic Pension) and Welfare Pension (Disability Welfare Pension) annuities are illustrated in the table below.
* Please note that figures vary in accordance to fluctuation of the economy, each year.

1. National Pension Plan

Annual pension payments for National Pension Plan (Disability Basic Pension) (as of 2022)

National Pension Plan (Disability Basic Plan)
1st-grade	972,250 yen / year
2nd-grade	777,800 yen / year

If the recipient has child dependents (child under 18 or child with first-grade or second-grade disability), the above figures will be raised.

2. Welfare Pension Program

Monthly payments are calculated based on the amount of regular monthly income. Disability Welfare Pension is added to Disability Basic Pension.

Annual pension payments for Welfare Pension Program (Disability Welfare Pension)

Welfare Pension Program (Disability Welfare Pension)
1st-grade	Earnings-related component x 1.25 + spouse's pension benefit + disability basic pension
2nd-grade	Earnings-related component + spouse's pension benefit + disability basic pension
3rd-grade	Earnings-related component (minimum payment 583,400 yen / year – no additions)

NPO Disability Pension Help Desk

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4.Other financial support services

Social welfare system