If you take time off from work due to sickness
"Injury and Sickness Allowance" is paid when an insured person unable to earn a salary or other income while unable to work due to a nonoccupational sickness or injury.
Injury and Sickness Allowance
Amounts paid
Amount equal to two-thirds of the average standard monthly remuneration over the most recent 12-month period ÷ 30
Amount equal to 13% of the average standard monthly remuneration over the most recent 12-month period ÷ 30
*There is no payment after retirement
** For individuals who have been insured persons for less than 12 months, the lesser of i. or ii. below:
- i. Individual's average standard monthly remuneration over the most recent continuous months prior to the month payment of the allowance begins
- ii. Society's average standard monthly remuneration for all insured persons as of September 30 of the preceding fiscal year
Provisional measure
Aggregating the days paid up to the total payment period of 18 months from the date on which payment begins will apply to the Injury and Sickness Allowance (payment of which begins on or after July 2, 2020) for which the payment period based on calendar days is less than 18 months as of December 31, 2021. The payment period will continue to be the period of 18 months from the date on which payment begins if 18 months from the date on which payment begins have passed as of that date.
When an insured person is unable to earn a salary or other income while taking time off work due to a nonoccupational sickness or injury, insurance will pay him or her an amount equal to two-thirds of his or her average standard monthly remuneration over the most recent 12-month period ÷ 30 per day off work, to help protect the livelihood of the insured person and his or her family. This is called "the Injury and Sickness Allowance". Even if the insured person receives a salary or other income from his or her place of work, if the amount of such income is less than the Injury and Sickness Allowance then the difference in amounts is paid as Injury and Sickness Allowance.
The society's additional benefits
Injury and Sickness Allowance Additional Sum
The Health Insurance Society also provides its own independent benefits (additional benefits) in addition to the Injury and Sickness Allowance.
The amount of the Injury and Sickness Allowance Additional Sum is the amount equal to % of the average standard monthly remuneration over the most recent 12-month period ÷ 30 minus the amount of the Injury and Sickness Allowance, per day off work.
Additional Extended Injury and Sickness Allowance
If you are unable to earn a salary or other income because you remain off work even after the end of payment of the statutory Injury and Sickness Allowance, the Health Insurance Society will pay the amount equal to 80% of your average standard monthly remuneration over the most recent 12-month period ÷ 30 per day off work for 6 months, as Additional Extended Injury and Sickness Allowance.
The "Injury and Sickness Allowance Additional Sum" and "Additional Extended Injury and Sickness Allowance" will not be paid after retirement.
Conditions for payment
This benefit is paid when all four of the following conditions are met.
- You are recuperating under treatment for sickness or injury (recuperation at home is acceptable).
- You are unable to perform your previous job because you are recuperating from sickness or injury.
- You have taken at least three consecutive days off.
- ** Payment of this benefit begins on the fourth consecutive day off.
- ** The first three days are referred to as the waiting period, and no benefits are paid for those days.
- You are unable to receive salary or other income
- ** Even if you are receiving a salary or other income, if the amount of such income is less than the Injury and Sickness Allowance then the Society will pay the difference.
Cases in which you are eligible to receive the Injury and Sickness Allowance and Maternity Allowance concurrently
If you become eligible to receive the Injury and Sickness Allowance and Maternity Allowance concurrently, payment of the Maternity Allowance will be granted priority. However, if the Maternity Allowance paid is less than the Injury and Sickness Allowance, the difference between the two amounts will be paid.
If you become eligible for Disability Employees' Pension
If you become eligible to receive Disability Employees' Pension under Employees' Pension Insurance (including the Disability Basic Pension under the National Pension program), payment of the Injury and Sickness Allowance will end.
Injury and Sickness Allowance benefits will not be paid after retirement if you receive Old-Age Employees' Pension or similar benefits.
- Reference link
However, the Society will pay the difference if the amount paid by the pension or other program in any of the above cases is less than the amount of the Injury and Sickness Allowance.
Information for those receiving Injury and Sickness Allowance or undergoing treatment for illness or injury
- If you have a disability pension grade, you are eligible to receive a disability pension after 18 months have passed since the date of the first examination.
- If you have a disability pension grade, you are eligible to claim a disability pension at any time until you reach the age of 65 years after 18 months have passed since the date of the first examination.
Many people receiving the Injury and Sickness Allowance or undergoing treatment for an illness or injury file claims for a disability pension late because they do not understand the structure of the disability pension system or how to file a claim for any subsequent exacerbation of a disability (claim filed by a person who did not have a disability pension grade at the date of certification of the disability but does qualify later due to worsening condition).
Be sure to file claims promptly. Filing late may reduce the total pension amount you are eligible to receive.
- Reference link
Contact your local pension office or pension consultation center if you have any questions.
[Addresses of pension offices and pension consultation centers]
https://www.nenkin.go.jp/section/soudan/index.html
If the cause is a workplace accident
If the cause is an accident at the workplace or while commuting, Worker's Accident Compensation Insurance applies instead of health insurance. Check with the person responsible at your establishment for more information.
- * When even illnesses and injuries on-the-job are not targeted for benefits of the Worker's Accident Compensation Insurance, benefits of the health insurance are provided except the duties as the officer of the corporation (except for a corporation less than five employees).
Caution:
The right to claim health insurance benefits expires in two years.