Report of Dependents

Economically-dependents of insured workers of Employees’ Health Insurance (EHI) may be covered by EHI.
Also, dependent spouses of insured workers of Employees’ Pension Insurance (EPI)* may apply for coverage of National Pension as Category Ⅲ insured person; they do not have to pay their own National Pension contributions.
* Except for insured workers age 65 or older who are eligible for old-age benefits.

Dependent family members of an insured worker of EHI can apply for coverage if they are your first, second or third level of your family members or relatives (see the chart below,) living in Japan, and financially supported mainly by the insured worker.

They need to have their address in Japan (registered at municipal office) in principle. A dependent who temporarily stays abroad, however, may be applicable if he/she is, for example, a student studying abroad, or a family member who accompanies an insured worker detached to work abroad.

When a dependent has an income, he/she is applicable if;

- he/she lives with you and has an annual income of less than ￥1.3 million* AND less than half of insured worker’s annual income**.

- he/she does not live with you and has an annual income of less than ￥1.3 million* AND less than the annual financial support amount provided by insured worker.

*\1.5 million if he/she is age 19 or older but under 23 and is not a spouse
\1.8 million if he/she is age 60 or older or has a certain level of disability

** When a dependent’s income is more than half of yours, however, the Japan Pension Service may decide to cover the dependent under EHI, if the dependent’s annual income is not more than insured worker’s, and if the result of comprehensive examination provides enough ground to recognize that the insured worker plays the primary role in household economy.

When your dependents become eligible for coverage or if there is any change to your dependent's coverage status, your employer must submit the “EHI: Report of Dependents (change)” within 5 days after the change, to JPS branch office or processing center which covers your company.

Category Ⅱ insured persons’ dependent spouses between age 20 and 59, residing in Japan may apply for coverage as Category Ⅲ insured person (excluding when Category Ⅱ insured person is age 65 or older and eligible for Old-age Basic Pension.)

Note: Effective April 1st, 2020 you need to reside in Japan in order to be a Category Ⅲ insured person. However, even without an address in Japan
you can enroll inNational Pension as the Category Ⅲ insured person if you are, for example, a student studying abroad or a family member accompanying a worker detached to work in a foreign country, who is described by one of the following categories of exceptional coverage:

1. a student studying in a foreign country
2. an accompanying person of a Category Ⅱ insured person who is sent to work in a foreign country
3. a person who temporarily stays in a foreign country, for non-work-related purposes, such as sightseeing, leisure, and volunteerism
4. a person recognized as equivalent to 2, who has become an accompanying person of a detached Category Ⅱ insured person working in a foreign country
5. a person who has justifiable reasons, taking into account various conditions such as purpose of travel, to be recognized that their livelihood is Japan-related

When you become subject to the Category Ⅲ insured person, you may ask your spouse’s employer to register you at JPS branch office that covers your spouse's workplace, within 14 days, by submitting the "National Pension: Application to Enroll in as Category Ⅲ Insured Person."