The importance of pension for those living in Japan

日本の年金制度について - 将来のことを考え、老後の過ごし方を計画する

2016/06/16 Thursday Daily life and laws.

Aposentadoria 1Many foreigners have been living in Japan for several years. But, what are they planning for the future? Over the years, these citizens will get older, and if they do not pay a pension plan, what will they do?

It is very important to plan the future, thinking in how your situation will be within 20 or 30 years. In this video we will talk about a very important subject: pension.

Pension is a system for citizens who work for many years and complied some requirements (such as minimum age, contribution period, among others) and provides a remuneration to senior citizens or other special cases as disability.

About pension systems in Japan

In Japan, there are two different systems: The National Pension Insurance (for those enrolled in Kokumin Kenko Hoken) and the Employee’s Pension Insurance (for those enrolled in Shakai Hoken).

National Pension (Kokumin Hoken)Image2

Public pension is a social insurance system who pays a pension to senior citizens, people with disabilities or for beavered families, assuring protection in an old age, in case of accidents and death.

Entry to national pension

All residents in Japan, between the ages over 20 and below 59, including foreigners, must enter the National Pension system. Those who have entered into the Employee’s Pension insurance system at the company also entered into the National Pension system at the same time.

Aposentadoria 12Entry procedures

To enter the National Pension system, you should go to the pension department in your local municipal administrative office.

Payment of pension contributions

The contribution rate is same for all subscribers regardless of income and is ¥16,260 per month (for year 2016). Payment notifications as to 1 year are sent from the Japan Pension Service once every April.  Families unable to afford the payment due to low income or other reasons can apply for payment exemption. For details, please contact a pension department in your local municipal administrative office.

Old-age basic pension Aposentadoria 8

Pension benefits are paid from age 65 to citizens who satisfy certain conditions, such as having paid the national pension contributions for 25 years or more. There are also the Disability Basic Pension and the Survivor’s Basic Pension, for details, please, contact a pension department of a local municipal administrative office.

Aposentadoria 4Employee’s Pension Insurance (Kousei Nenkin Hoken)

The Employee’s Pension Insurance is a payment system of ” Proportional Pension corresponding to the Period of Employment” where company employees are enrolled, for instance. Employee’s Pension contribution is made cumulatively to National Pension.

Entry procedures to Employee’s Pension Insurance

As the same in Health Insurance, enrollment on Employee’s Pension Insurance is applicable to companies with more than 5 employees, since in regular basis, even foreign employees.

The procedures for entering into the National Pension system are carried out by the company. Employer and employee will share the pension contributions by half. The amount is charged according to the amount of your income and bonuses.

Receiving Employee’s Pension Insurance for senior citizens Image4

Those enrolled on Employee’s Pension Insurance who have completed the qualification period for receiving old-age basic pension from national pension (when the pension contributions or exemption, among others is 25 years or more), are eligible to cumulative benefit of Employee’s Pension Insurance for senior citizens, from the age of 65.  In addition to Employee’s Pension Insurance for senior citizens, there is also the insurance for people with disabilities and to the beavered families. For details, please contact a social insurance department (Nenkin Jimusho).

Aposentadoria 14Lump-sum withdrawal payment (upon leaving Japan)

In Employee’s Pension Insurance, as well as National Pension, there is the “lump-sum withdrawal payment” upon leaving Japan.

Foreign residents who have contributed to the National Pension and Employee’s Pension for a total of six months or more may claim the Lump-sum Withdrawal Payment within two years of leaving Japan according to designated procedures.

Lump-sum Withdrawal Payment varies depending on the period of pension contribution and type of insurance.

For details, please contact the pension department of your local municipal administrative office.

Final MessageImage1

Think on the future. Many foreigners living in Japan think that pay pension is not viable, as they intent to return to their country, however, they have been living in Japan for many years, getting older and are not contributing monthly.

Pension is not only when you get old. The Public Pension System is a social insurance system to support those retired for disability, and bereaved families in an emergency or other circumstances, so it is necessary to be enrolled in a pension system to receive the benefits.

In addition, as explained previously, it is possible to request the Lump-sum Withdrawal Payment upon leaving Japan.

Make a plan of your life, learn about the pension systems and assure your remuneration during old age or in emergency circumstances.

[Source]

Ippan Zaidan Hojin Jichitai Kokusaika Kyokai Tagengo Seikatsu Jyoho (Counsel of Autonomous Bodies for Internationalization)

http://www.clair.or.jp/tagengo/index.html

Help desk for foreign students of exchange programs of Mie Hello Work Support Division for Newly Graduated

2016/06/16 Thursday Daily life and laws.

みえ新卒応援ハローワークの外国人留学生コーナーについて

hello-work-ryugakusei

Consultation with experts in employment field for students of exchange programs.

“Ryugakusei Corner” of Mie Hello Work Support Division for Newly Graduated (Mie Shin’sotsu Oen Hello Work) will provide assistance in job field for foreign students who have the level N1 of Japanese Language Proficiency Test (or similar level).

Foreigners of any nationality interested in working in Japan can use this service.

Target audience:

People who have the level above N1 of Japanese Language Proficiency Test, above a certain level of comprehension both on Japanese language and Japan’s occupational practices (the same level of a Japanese student), with no difficulties to seek work with the same assistance aimed to Japanese. People who do not fit in the conditions cited previously should contact Nagoya Gaikokujin Koyo Service Center) Nagoya Service Center for Foreigner Employability).

Services

Job consultation, advertisement on hiring, resume reviewing, interview training, among others.

 

People interested in the assistance should contact firstly by phone.

Contact: Mie Shin’sotsuOen Hello Work

Tel: 059-229-9591 Tsu-shiHadokoro-cho700 UST-Tsu3F

 

HelloWork

Hello Work operates in more than 550 locations throughout Japan in addition to other related institutions and provides assistance and consultation to the public regarding job offers in order to each citizen is able to find a proper job to his/her conditions or necessity.

In addition, Hello Work also provides assistance related to benefits of unemployment insurance.

To find a branch of Hello Work in Mie Prefecture close to you, refer the home page below.

http://www.mhlw.go.jp/kouseiroudoushou/shozaiannai/roudoukyoku/mie/index.html#antei