Job Discussion Forums

[ntropy]

I worked in Japan for 6 years about a decade ago. DUring that time, I dutifully paid my monthly medical insurance/pension fees.

Needless to say, since I no longer live there and won't be retiring there, I haven't/won't get any return from the pension portion of those fees.

I've heard verbally from a few people that it may be possible to claim for these fees back but no one seems to know how.

Any information on this would be appreciated

[cangel]

If you paid into the pension scheme in Japan, you should have a small blue pension book. This is vital. If you have this book, then you can get the required documents from the tax office is the ward where you worked. These papers are in English as well as many other languages. You must fill out the paperwork from your home country (you canont fill out and submit the papers while still in Japan). You must include your little blue pension book. If everything is correct then you should receive a return (about 1 months salary for each year you worked/paid into the pension) in about 4-6 months. If you have lost your pension book, I do not know how to go about getting a replacement.

[J-Pop]

cangel's information is accurate,
Together with the "little blue book," I was given a one-page sheet of instructions (or, maybe these are in the booklet?). This explains exactly what to do & not do in order to receive a reimbursement from the government. Too, it seems we were given some kind of official-looking statement (looks like a receipt, maybe?). I think everyone who pays into the fund is assigned a unique ID #.

Not knowing when--or if--I'll be returning to Japan, I've kept the booklet & everything else. If I remember correctly, you will receive what you paid into the fund minus 20% for some kind of administrative (processing?) fee--something like that.

[shmooj]

To divert only a smidgin...

Am I right in assuming that eikaiwa do not make deductions for pension schemes?

[ntropy]

Very useful information. Thanks.

However, the mention of the little blue book does not mean anything to me. I believe this must have been instituted after I left. I simply have a receipt issued monthly after my payments. That, plus tax receipts given out yearly (statement of what's paid). Nothing resembling a little blue book.

No one has contact info for a Japanese ministry where I can try and sort this out do they?

Obliged

[J-Pop]

[J-Pop]

[cangel]

They do hold back 20%. However, prior to leaving Japan you must designate a tax representative who will get the last 20% for you after you receive the 80%. There is a separate form that has to be signed by your tax rep in Japan. Your tax rep can be anyone you trust in country but I'd suggest someone who speaks Japanese.

[G Cthulhu]

You can't claim.


Firstly, you can only claim on earnings over a contigous 36 month period. Anything paid into the scheme after that point is "lost" to you as far as a refund goes.

Secondly, you only have two years from the day you left Japan to file the initial claim with the Social Insurance Agency.

Lastly, you can only claim for the *last* contigous period of employment and payments made into the scheme - if there was any gap in employment and the payments going into the scheme then you lose everything before the last payment gap.

Any Japanese Consulate or Embassy can give you the current details and forms. The rate of repayment calculation also changed this past April, btw.

The SIA takes anywhere from 1-6 months to process an application for repayment *if the application is all in order*. If you haven't got your pension book then expect another 6-8 months wait on top of that while they search the records.


Sorry.

[ntropy]

Excellent information.

I knew I could count on Dave's denizens. Thank you alll.

[shmooj]

[cangel]

"They" are the Japanese tax and or pension authorities. Don't worry though. you will get the last 20% so long as you appoint an in-country tax-representative and they submit the proper paperwork after you have received your 80%.

[Glenski]

For refunds from pension if you were on the JET program, go here.
http://www.jetaasc.org/php/article.php?content=pension
http://www.toronto.jetaa.ca/alumni/resources/pension.html

For refunds on pension from other types of jobs, go here. (Chthulu is right. You must claim for your refund within a 2 year period after you leave Japan, and you can only receive a refund for a 3-year working period.)
http://www.najapan.com/pension.html
http://kansaiconnect.com/altonline/pension.html

(FWIW, all you had to do was type "japan pension refund" into Yahoo. There were many hits from sources inside and outside Japan.)

[J-Pop]