Maternity Allowance (Shussan Teatekin) Application

Who it is for

An insured person (hokensha) enrolled in the Employees' Health Insurance system administered by the Japan Health Insurance Association (Kyokai Kenpo), who is taking or has taken time off work due to childbirth. In the event of the insured person's death, their heir(s) may submit the application on their behalf.

When it applies

The insured person begins an absence from work due to childbirth.

Eligibility

• The applicant must be an insured person under the Employees' Health Insurance system administered by the Japan Health Insurance Association (Kyokai Kenpo).
• The applicant must have been absent from work due to childbirth.
• The applicant must not have received salary during the period of absence.
• The period of absence must fall within the statutory timeframe: from 42 days before the date of childbirth (or 98 days before for multiple births) up to 56 days after the date of childbirth.
• If the applicant has lost their insured status, they must meet two additional conditions: (a) they had at least one year of continuous insured coverage (excluding voluntary continuation coverage) ending the day before the loss of status; and (b) they were in a state where the benefit was receivable on the day before the loss of status.

Required documents

• Application form: Health Insurance Maternity Allowance Payment Application Form
  健康保険出産手当金支給申請書
• Physician or midwife certification (on the application form)
  医師・助産師による証明（申請書に記載）
• Employer certification (on the application form)
  事業主による証明（申請書に記載）
• Residence certificate (with My Number) or residence certificate record document (with My Number)
  住民票（マイナンバーの記載のあるもの）または住民票記載事項証明書（マイナンバーの記載のあるもの）
• Photo ID (driver's license, passport, or other government-issued photo ID)
  運転免許証のコピー、パスポートのコピー、その他官公署が発行する写真つき身分証明書のコピー
• Health Insurance Enrollment Status Report (if there was a change of employer within the 12 months prior to the start of payment)
  健康保険加入状況等申告書（支給開始日以前の12か月以内で事業所に変更があった場合）
• Household register transcript (koseki tohon) proving relationship to the deceased insured person (if claimed by heir)
  被保険者との続柄がわかる「戸籍謄本」等（被保険者が亡くなられ、相続人の方が請求する場合）
• Power of attorney (for arbitrary agent) or household register transcript (for legal agent)
  委任状（任意代理人の場合）または戸籍謄本（法定代理人の場合）

Deadline

2 years after each day of absence due to childbirth

Official wording: 出産のため労務に服さなかった日ごとにその翌日から2年

How to submit

• Electronic application (via Kyokai Kenpo's online service)
• Paper application by mail to the enrollee's local Kyokai Kenpo branch

Where to submit

Japan Health Insurance Association (Kyokai Kenpo) local branch (shibu) to which the applicant is enrolled