Pension Basic Information (年金)
Contacts
City Hall, Divisions |
Address |
Phone |
City Hall Main Office, Health Insurance and Pension Division 保険年金課, hoken nenkin ka |
Chuo 3-2-1 中央3-2-1 |
0296-77-1101 |
Kasama Regional Branch, Citizen Service Division 笠間支所 市民窓口課, kasama shisho shimin madoguchi ka |
Kasama 1532 笠間1532 |
|
Iwama Regional Branch, Citizen Service Division 岩間支所 市民窓口課, iwama shisho shimin madoguchi ka |
Shimogo 5140 下郷5140 |
0299-37-6611 |
Open: 8:30 to 17:15 Closed: Weekends, public holidays, and New Year's holidays |
National Pension (国民年金, kokumin nenkin)
The National Pension (国民年金, kokumin nenkin) is a public pension system, which provides monetary support called the "Basic Pension" (基礎年金, kiso nenkin) in circumstances of old age, disability, or death.
Who must enroll in the National Pension Plan?
All registered residents*¹ of Japan, aged 20 to 59 years, including foreign residents, must enroll in the National Pension Plan. There are three categories of people enrolled in the plan (insured persons).
The insured are categorized according to their status as follows:
Category |
Details |
Application/Procedure |
Category 1 Insured Persons 第1号被保険者 |
All registered residents of Japan aged 20 to 59 years who are not Category 2 or 3 insured persons ● Agriculture, forestry, or fishery business operators, self-employed persons, unemployed persons, students, etc. |
Apply in person at the Health Insurance and Pension Division (City Hall) or Citizen Service Division (Kasama/Iwama Regional Branch) |
Category 2 Insured Persons 第2号被保険者 |
Persons enrolled in the Employees' Pension Insurance system (厚生年金, kousei nenkin)*² or Mutual Aid Associations (共済組合, kyousai kumiai)*³ ● Company and government employees, and those working at schools |
Performed by the company/business owner |
Category 3 Insured Persons 第3号被保険者 |
Category 2 Insured Person's dependent spouse aged 20 to 59 years, who resides in Japan |
Performed by the company/business owner |
Note: Persons aged 20 to 59 years will be counted as Category 1 insured persons from the time of entry into Japan until when they are registered as Category 2 or Category 3 insured persons. |
*¹ "Registered residents" are those registered in the Resident Record (住民登録, juumin touroku).
Excludes foreign nationals with visas for medical stay, long stay for sightseeing, etc.
*² Employees’ Pension (厚生年金, kousei nenkin) is a supplementary pension offered by private companies to their employees.
*³ Mutual Aid Pension (共済組合, kyousai nenkin) is a supplementary pension offered to government employees.
How to enroll in the System and register yourself under each category
- Category 1 Insured Persons (第1号被保険者, dai ichigou hihokensha)
Once you meet the criteria of a Category 1 Insured Person, you need to register yourself at Kasama City Hall, within 14 days, by submitting the "Application to Enroll in National Pension as Category 1 Insured Person" (国民年金被保険者関係届書(申出書)kokumin nenkin hihokensha kankei todokesho).
● If you are a non-Japanese resident and a Category 1 Insured Person, please make sure you register your residency first. This can be done at the City Hall.
● When you become a naturalized Japanese citizen while you are covered by the National Pension system, you need to report the change of your status to the City Hall.
● The Japanese Pension Service will send you contribution payment notices. Please use the notices to pay your monthly contributions.
- Category 2 Insured Persons (第2号被保険者, dai nigou hihokensha)
● Your employer is responsible for completing your enrollment to the pension system on behalf of you. For more details, ask your employer.
● Your contribution amount is deducted from your salary and paid on your behalf by your employer.
- Category 3 Insured Persons (第3号被保険者, dai sangou hihokensha)
● When you become a Category 3 Insured Person, please register at the nearest Japan Pension Service Branch Office (JPS Branch Office) within 14 days, by submitting the "Application to Enroll in National Pension as Category 3 Insured Persons" (国民年金第3号被保険者関係届, kokumin nenkin sango hihokensha kankei todokesho).
● You do not need to pay contributions; you are financially covered by the contributions paid by the Category II Insured Persons.
Pension Handbook (年金手帳, nenkin techou)
You will receive your Pension Handbook (kokumin nenkin techou) after you enroll in the National Pension System. Always keep your Pension Handbook in a safe place, as you will need it throughout your lifetime. If your Pension Handbook is lost or damaged: |
Pension Handbook |
Monthly Contributions (保険料, hokenryou)
The basic contribution (保険料, hokenryou) amount for the National Pension is ¥16,540/month (Category 1 Insured Persons).
If you enroll in the voluntary plan for additional benefits, the additional contributions (付加保険料, fuka hokenryou) will be ¥400/month.
Note: Amounts are based on the 2020 fiscal year.
Types of Pension Benefits
If you are eligible to receive pension payments, please file your paperwork at the Insurance and Pension Division (City Hall) or the Citizen Service Division (Kasama/Iwama Regional Branch).
Your pension will be issued on each even-numbered month and may be received through a major financial institution of your choice.
Type |
Requirements |
Old-age Basic Pension 老齢基礎年金 rourei kiso nenkin |
Eligible persons can receive full benefits when age 65 and over. |
Survivors' Basic Pension 遺族基礎年金 izoku kiso nenkin |
If an insured person dies while contributing to the National Pension, the dependent child(ren) or the spouse of the deceased who takes care of the dependent child(ren) may receive the Survivors' Basic Pension. (Certain age and contribution requirements apply.) |
Widows' Pension 寡婦年金 kafu nenkin |
If your husband dies after contributing for at least 10 years as a Category 1 Insured Person and if he has not yet received an Old-age Pension, you can receive the Widows' Pension while you are aged 60 to 65. You are qualified 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. |
Lump-sum Death Benefit 死亡一時金 shibou ichijikin |
If an insured person dies without receiving any pension benefits and their contribution as a Category 1 Insured Person totals at least 3 years of monthly payments, you may qualify for this benefit. |
Disability Basic Pension 障害基礎年金 shougai kiso nenkin |
You can receive Disability Basic Pension when you have a certain level of disability specified by law. |
Early or Deferred Pension Benefit Claims
The normal age to begin receiving your Old-age Basic Pension is 65. However, you may opt to receive a pension at any age after 60. The pension amount is adjusted depending on the age you start to receive your pension. You may opt to receive a reduced amount of pension before age 65, or an increased amount after age 65. In these cases, your pension will be reduced by 0.5-30% for early payment, or increased by 8.4-42% for deferred payment. Please note that once you start receiving your payment, the receivable rate will not change for the rest of your life.
Useful Links
- Japan Pension Service (English)
https://www.nenkin.go.jp/international
問い合わせ先
- 2021年7月13日
- 印刷する