The pension premiums for FY2021 have been determined.
Residents of Japan between 20 and 59 years of age must be enrolled in the National Pension System. This includes residents of foreign nationality and foreign students with a mid- or long-term stay visa.
You can also ask for information if you need forms for enrollment or any changes related to the National Pension System, or if you are having difficulty in paying your premiums and need information about exemption or delayed payment programs.

FY2021 National Pension Premiums 

* If you pay an additional 400 yen per month, you can increase your Basic Pension for the Elderly amount.
(The amount you can increase is equal to 200 yen × number of months you pay added premiums)

FY2021 Pension Amount

● If you are having difficulty paying your premiums, please apply for the exemption or delayed payment programs.
① Students Payment Special Case System
The student payment special case system is a program that allows students to postpone payment of premiums until they are employed. You can apply for this exemption if you are a student and your income for the previous year is below a designated amount. You must apply every year.
★ The period for the students payment special case system will not be reflected in the pension benefits amount for the Basic Elderly Pension.

② Exemption (Complete or Partial Exemption) Program
If your income and that of your spouse and/or the head of your household is below a designated amount, the insurance/pension premiums can be completely or partially exempted.
★ Residents who have resigned (or become unemployed) can take advantage of the special exemption program.

③ Delayed Payment Program
If you are an applicant under fifty years of age, and if your income for the previous year and that of your spouse, regardless of the income of the head of the household, is less than a designated amount, you can delay payment of your premiums.
★ The period for the delayed payment program will not be reflected in the pension benefits amount for the Basic Elderly Pension.
* Programs ① through ③ can be applied for premiums dating back up to two years and one month before you apply. Since an evaluation of your income for the previous year of the application period will be conducted, authorization may not be approved in some cases.

There are other exemption/delayed payment programs (special measures) in addition to the abovementioned programs, including the pre-/post-childbirth exemption program and the COVID-19 exemption/delayed payment program. For more information, please contact the Pension Section of the Medical Insurance and Pension Division.

● If You Become Disabled from Illness or Injury —The Basic Pension for the Disabled
If a member of the National Pension Plan becomes disabled due to illness or injury, receives his/her first medical examination during membership, and has a disability recognized as Level 1 or 2 on the date of disability authorization*, he/she can receive the Basic Pension for the Disabled starting from the date of disability authorization. Even if the disability is slight on the date the member’s disability is approved, the member may be able to receive the Pension for the Disabled if the disability becomes more serious later. To qualify for this pension, the member must have paid pension premiums for a designated period of time.
Members disabled due to illness or injury who received their first medical examination before their twentieth birthday, and have a disability recognized as Level 1 or 2, may as a rule receive the Basic Pension for the Disabled after reaching twenty years of age.
Note: This pension is not available if the member has an income of a designated amount or higher.

* This refers to the day eighteen months from the day of the first medical examination, or the day during the term when his/her condition becomes stable.

● Have You Completed Your Application Procedures? Pension Recipients Support Benefit
This program is meant to support the livelihood of pension recipients whose income is below a designated level.
If you receive the Basic Pensio n for the Elderly, Disabled or Bereaved and meet the designated eligibility requirements, the Japan Pension Service will send you the documents needed to apply for benefits. If you have not completed the designated application procedures, please do so as early as possible.
For more information, please call the “Nenkin (Pension) Dial” (Tel: 0570-05-1165) for a consultation.

● Don’t Forget to File Notification Forms
Three Types of National Pension Members
Class 1 Insured: Self-employed workers and their spouses; students and part-time workers
Class 2 Insured: Those who work for a company or are civil servants (members of welfare annuity)
Class 3 Insured: Spouse of Class 2 Insured person

* If you moved to Japan three months or less before reaching twenty years of age, you must file notification forms at the Medical Insurance and Pension Division or the local branch office.

March 15, 2023