Japan Permanent Disability Benefits the program through prefecture labor standards offices and Permanent disability pension: Seriously disabled persons local labor standards inspection offices. (assessed according to grades 1 to 7 of disability) receive an Unemployment annual pension of between 131 and 313 times their average daily wage in the preceding 3 months. The pension varies with the assessed degree of disability. Regulatory Framework Less seriously disabled persons (assessed according to First law: 1947. grades 8 to 14 of disability) receive a lump-sum benefit of Current law: 1975 (employment insurance), with 2003 between 56 and 503 times their average daily wage in the amendment. preceding 3 months. The pension varies with the assessed degree of disability. Type of program: Social insurance system. Constant-attendance allowance (assessed grades of disability Coverage 1 and 2): 106,100 yen a month if requiring full-time care (57,580 yen if the care is provided by family members); Employees younger than age 65. 53,050 yen a month if requiring part-time care (28,790 yen if the Voluntary coverage for employees in firms in the agricultural, care is provided by family members). forestry, and fisheries industries with less than five regular Benefits are paid every 2 months. employees. Benefit adjustment: Automatic annual adjustment for wage Exclusions: Seasonal workers whose term of employment is changes. 4 months or less. Workers’ Medical Benefits Special schemes for casual workers, seamen, and civil servants. Benefits include medical treatment, surgery, hospitalization, Source of Funds nursing, dental care, medicines, appliances, and transportation. Insured person: 0.7% of earnings; 0.8% for agricultural, There is no limit on the duration of benefits. forestry, fishery, or construction workers. Survivor Benefits Self-employed person: Not applicable. Survivor pension: An annual pension equal to the insured’s Employer: 1.05% of payroll; 1.15% of payroll for agricultural, average daily wage in the preceding 3 months multiplied by forestry and fishery workers; and 1.25% of payroll for between 153 and 245 days, according to number of survivors. construction workers. Eligible survivors include a widow or widower (aged 60 or Government: 25% (33.3% for daily workers) of the cost of older), children and grandchildren (up to the end of the fiscal benefits for unemployment benefit and special monthly year in which the child reaches age 18), parents and allowance and 12.5% of the cost for newborn child and older grandparents (aged 60 or older), and dependent brothers and worker allowances. The government provides subsidies to sisters up to the end of the fiscal year in which the child employers to reduce the need to lay off employees, to reaches age 18; or aged 60 or older. encourage the hiring of hard-to-employ older workers, and to finance other measures to reduce unemployment. Benefits are paid every 2 months. Benefit adjustment: Automatic annual adjustment for wage Qualifying Conditions changes. Unemployment benefit: Six months of insurance during the Death grant (if no eligible survivors): A lump sum equal to last 12 months (or 1 year of insurance during the last 2 years the insured’s average daily wage in the preceding 3 months for part-time workers). Must be registered with the Public multiplied by 1,000 days is payable to a nondependent Employment Security Office and be capable of, and willing to, survivor. work. The unemployed person must report to the Public Funeral grant: 60 days of the insured’s average daily wage in Employment Security Office once every 4 weeks. the 3 months preceding death or 315,000 yen plus 30 days’ Unemployment is not due to voluntary leaving, serious wages, whichever is higher. misconduct, refusal of a suitable job offer, or nonattendance at recommended training (otherwise, the insured is disqualified Administrative Organization from receiving benefit for between 1 and 3 months). Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare (http://www.mhlw.go.jp) Special daily or monthly allowances: Includes vocational provides general supervision and administration. training, transportation, moving, and lodging expenses. The allowances are payable while in training and while seeking Worker’s Compensation Division within the Ministry of Health, employment outside of the immediate commuting area as well Labor, and Welfare’s Bureau of Labor Standards administers as to meet other costs. The insured must have at least 3 years of coverage to receive vocational training.