Anyone between the ages of 20 and 59, living in Japan, can join the Japanese National Pension scheme. As a rule, pension payments start when you reach 65, after you have paid the pension premium for over 25 years.
Since the pension premiums and payment modes may vary according to the particular situation of different families, please contact the National Health Insurance and Pension Division for details. If you need information about the pension program or would like to confirm your contributions, please contact the Tsuchiura Social Insurance Office.
From this April, until March of next year, the monthly national pension insurance premiums (kokumin nenkin hoken-ryou) will rise by 280 yen to a total of 13,869 yen. Premiums are set to rise by this amount per year until Heisei Year 29. In addition, national pension insurance payouts (kokumin nenkin-gaku) for 2006 (Heisei 18) premiums will be lowered by 0.3% starting from June to reflect a drop in the Consumer Price Index (CPI).
Enrollment in the National Pension (kokumin nenkin) is mandatory for all residents in Japan aged 20 and under 60. Your contributions to this program will serve as the base fund for both your Retirement Pension (rourei kiso nenkin), along with your Basic Disability Pension (shougai kiso nenkin) and the Basic Pension for Bereaved Families (izoku kiso nenkin). Monthly pension payments (contribution) are set at 13,860 yen (2006). Those people who are not able to contribute to their national pension accounts due to economic difficulties can file for a pension payment reduction or exemption (hokenryou no menjo).
In order to qualify for this exemption program, the reported income for last year of the applicant, his/her spouse, or the head of the household must be below a designated amount. Since the national government contributes one-third of all national pension fund payouts, both your Basic Disability Pension and Basic Pension for Bereaved Families are secure.
Note: If any part of any billed amount is in arrears, your exemption (payment reduction) will be cancelled.
In order to prevent your future pension payouts from decreasing, members who were granted a pension payment postponement or exemption are allowed to contribute additional payments to their pension account, if done within 10 years.
Contact: Tsuchiura Social Insurance Office or National Health Insurance and Pension Division.
Post-secondary (college) students in Japan who generally have minimal income, can ask to receive a Special Payment Exemption status. They will need to apply for this exemption at a General Services Counter or at the National Health Insurance and Pension Division. Since this status is based on your previous year's income, an application needs to be filed annually. In order for this exemption to take effect from April 2006, students need to turn this application in by the end of May.
To complete this application, present:
If the student has received employment income, a Heisei 17 Gensen Choushuu-hyou (Statement of Income - Withholding Tax Slip) is required. Self-employed students need to provide a copy of their Kakutei Shinkoku-sho (Income Tax Return) for Heisei Year 17. Students who left their jobs last year or this year will need to present their Koyouhoken Hihoken-sha Risshoku-hyo (Unemployment Insurance – Certificate of Job Termination) and a Koyouhoken Jyukyuu Shikaku-sho (Unemployment Insurance Recipient Eligibility Card).
Contact: National Health Insurance and Pension Division
Foreign residents who have been members of the scheme for six months or longer are eligible for a partial lump sum refund upon leaving the country permanently after applying, and within two years after leaving. To claim for a lump-sum refund of the pension premiums you have paid, fill out an application form, and send it, together with the necessary documents, to the Social Insurance Operation Center.
You can get a booklet including an application form, a list of the documents needed, and a detailed explanation of the application procedure at the National Health Insurance & Pension Division of Tsukuba City Hall (3rd floor, Sakura Branch Office).
In order to conform to new personal information protection laws, the city must confirm your identity before releasing information. When completing procedures at the city hall offices, be sure to bring ID such as your passport, alien registration card, or Japanese license. If you are applying for something on behalf of another person, you may be required to produce a letter of proxy that authorizes you to act on that person's behalf. Please be aware of these conditions and always bring sufficient ID when you visit the city hall. Contact the General Services Division for more information.
Topics: Procedures
Relevant for: Residents
Please note: While all efforts have been made to offer accurate and up-to-date information on this site, the information is presented as a guideline and is subject to change without notification. Phone numbers, addresses, and/or policies may have changed since this page was created. Please contact the appropriate section of the City Hall for confirmation of information and city policies.