Dependents


Dependents are basically individuals who are supported by the member’s income, and include the member’s spouse, children, and parents. Dependents need to meet one of the following criteria (this excludes the insured under the late-stage geriatric medical care plan (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.

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 a Mutual Aid Association, or someone insured by a health insurance or the Mariners Insurance.
  (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 1,300,000 yen and higher (108,334 yen or higher monthly), excluding temporary lump sum payouts such as retirement packages, except for when the individual is a recipient of a disability pension or is 60 years of age or older, in which case the limit increases to a steady annual income of 1,800,000 yen and higher (150,000 yen or higher monthly).
   
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

  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 an approved dependent of the member becomes disqualified as a dependent as defined by the Mutual Aid Association due to employment or other reasons, submit the form “Application for Dependent” to the Mutual Aid Association immediately along with the dependent card. If such dependent receives services such as medical treatment without filing this application, the Association will later claim the return of the amounts paid out.


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