Dependents


“Dependents” are a member’s spouse, children, parents, and others who mainly rely on the member’s income for their livelihood. Dependents must be one of the following: (Excluding insured persons of medical care system for the advanced elderly (75 years of age or older)).
  (1) The member’s spouse (including a common-law spouse), children, parents, grandchildren, grandparents, and younger siblings.
  (2) Relatives who are up to the third degree of kinship from the member and who do not meet the criterion in (1). They must be living with the member.
  (3) Parents and children of the member’s common-law spouse. They must be living with the member. The dependent qualification will survive the death of the common-law spouse.
The status of a dependent is approved and becomes effective on the date of the dependent qualification if the form “Application for Dependent” is submitted to the Mutual Aid Association within 30 days of the date of the dependent qualification. However, the dependent status becomes effective on the date when this form is received if its submission is past 30 days from the date of the dependent qualification.
Once a year, the Mutual Aid Association checks to confirm that dependents satisfy the requirements for dependent certification. To confirm eligibility for certification as a dependent, submit documentation of the dependent’s income (such as a tax exemption certificate or detailed salary statement), a certificate of school attendance, a pension remittance notice, or other related documents.

Individuals Who Are Ineligible to Become Dependents
Individuals who fall into any of the following categories are ineligible to become dependents, even if they are the relatives living with the member.
  (1) A member of the Mutual Aid Association or an insured person under health insurance or Mariners Insurance (including Voluntarily Continuing Insurance Members in each case)
  (2) Any family member of the Association member who is receiving dependent allowances from the national or another government, or its equivalent.
  (3) A dependent of a member who is jointly supported by the member and another individual, but the member is not the primary support provider.
  (4) An individual who has a steady annual income of 1.3 million yen or higher (1.5 million yen or higher if the individual is aged 19-22 as of December 31 of the current year and not the spouse of the Association member, 1.8 million yen or higher if the individual has a disability eligible for receipt of disability pension benefits or is 60 years of age or older), excluding temporary income such as retirement allowances.
   
Notes:  For the purpose of this booklet, the term "income" meansthe amount of money earned in the twelve months from the date when such income has commenced, instead of taxable income as defined under the Income Tax Act, i.e., the calendar-year taxable income between January through December. (An eligible dependent is required not to have annual income of 1,300,000 yen or higher, for a period of twelve (12) months commencing from any month. )
These incomes include those from employment, annuities, pensions, employment insurances, earned interests, incomes from properties, compensation for work absences under the Health Insurance Act and/or the Workers' Accident Compensation Insurance Law, and other earnings deemed to be incomes in actuality.
A discrepancy between the actual and expected income amounts may lead to retroactive denial of eligibility.
Please see the insurance department of your branch for any questions.
  (5) An individual who is 18 years old or older and younger than 60 years old, and who does not meet any of the following criteria.
   
i. A student (a student will be ineligible if he/she is employed, e.g., a part-time job, and falls into Category (4) above.)
ii. An individual with disability
iii. An individual who is incapable of working due to illness or injury
  (6) An individual who does not have an address in Japan (“domestic residence requirement” hereinafter)
An individual whose livelihood is recognized to be based in Japan, as in the following examples, may be certified as a dependent:
   
Reason for exception Example of documentation
1. Student studying abroad Copy of visa, student ID, certificate of school attendance, certificate of enrollment
2. Individual accompanying an Association member on overseas assignment Copy of visa, letter of overseas assignment, certificate of residence issued by foreign public agency
3. Individual temporarily abroad for reason other than employment (e.g., for sightseeing, recreation, volunteer activities) Copy of visa, certificate from volunteer dispatching agency, letter of consent to participate in volunteer activity
4. Individual entering into a relationship with an Association member while the member is on overseas assignment and deemed to be equivalent to those under 2 above Copy of birth or marriage certificate
5. Individual other than those under 1-4 above deemed to have a livelihood based in Japan in consideration of the purpose of travel or other circumstances * To be determined on a case-by-case basis

Note: For documents in a foreign language, please attach a translation that has been signed and sealed by the translator.
   

On the other hand, even if they have an address in Japan, those who fall in the following exceptional cases will have their certification as dependent revoked.

  • Those who come to Japan on a medical stay visa (“Visa for Medical Stay”)
  • Those who come to Japan on an extended sightseeing visa (“Long Stay Visa for Sightseeing and Recreation”)
  • Others deemed by the insurer not to meet the condition of residency in Japan

  1. To be approved as a dependent, a document (e.g., a certificate of exemption from taxation, a student registration certificate, and a pension notice of revision document) must be submitted that allows specific investigation and confirmation of the fact of support and the circumstances under which such support is necessary.
Notes: When either one or both of the member’s parents is being considered for approval, the income of the supporter, presence of other co-supporters, and other factors are comprehensively examined from the viewpoint of mutual spousal support. If the member’s parents live independently, the member’s amount of contribution, e.g., amount of money transfer to a bank account, needs to account for one third or more of the parents’ total income (the total amount of the income of the dependent-to-be and contributions from the member and other sources), as a matter of subsistence level.
  2. When a certified dependent of a member becomes disqualified as a dependent of the Mutual Aid Association due to employment or other reasons, promptly complete the certification cancellation procedure at the Mutual Aid Association office. If such dependent receives medical treatment or other services without completing this procedure, the Association will later demand reimbursement for the amount paid.

If you have any questions, please contact the mutual aid department of your branch.

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