Frequently Asked Questions (National Pension)

QuestionPlease tell me about the National Pension student payment exemption system.

Response

If you are a student (Note 1) and find it difficult to pay insurance premiums, please use the "Student Premium Payment Special Provision System," which allows for the deferral of premium payments during your enrollment upon application.

Eligible Individuals

All residents in Japan become insured under the National Pension system when they turn 20, and are required to pay premiums. However, for students, if their income is below a certain level (Note 2), there is a system called the "Student Premium Payment Special Exception System" that allows them to defer premium payments during their studies upon application. The income of family members is not taken into account.

• (Note 1) A student refers to individuals enrolled in universities (graduate schools), junior colleges, high schools, technical colleges, vocational schools, and various other schools (Note 3), including those attending night classes, part-time courses, or correspondence courses, so most students are included.
• (Note 2) Income criteria from the previous year (applicant only)
  1.28 million yen + number of dependents × 380,000 yen + social insurance premium deductions, etc.
• (Note 3) Various schools refer to those with a course duration of one year or more that have received approval from the prefectural governor.

Approval Period

From April to March of the following year
This year, for those who have been approved for the Student Payment Exemption System and are enrolled in the same school for the following year, a postcard format "Student Payment Exemption Application Form" will be sent from the Japan Pension Service. You can complete the procedure by filling out the required information and returning it. The results of the examination will be notified later by the Japan Pension Service.

Relationship with Old Age Basic Pension

To receive the Old-Age Basic Pension, in principle, a payment period of insurance premiums of 10 years or more is required. However, the period approved under the Student Payment Special Exception System is included in this 10-year qualification period for receiving the Old-Age Basic Pension. However, it is not included in the period used to calculate the amount of the Old-Age Basic Pension (Note: To receive the full amount of the Old-Age Basic Pension, a payment period of 40 years is required).
For this reason, in the future, there is a system that allows you to pay (make up) the insurance premiums for the student payment special exception period retroactively up to 10 years in order to receive the full old-age basic Pension (however, when making up for the premiums from before the third year, a certain additional amount will be added to the premiums at that time).

Relationship with Disability Basic Pension, etc.

In the event of unforeseen circumstances such as disability or death, to claim the Disability Basic Pension or the Survivor's Basic Pension, one of the following payment requirements must be met. However, the period during which you have received approval for the Student Payment Special Exception will be considered as a qualifying period for these requirements, so you can feel secure in case of an emergency.

1. On the day before the initial consultation date or the date of death, there must be at least two-thirds of the insured period for the month of the initial consultation date or the date of death, including the period of premium exemption.
2. If the date of the first visit or the date of death is before March 31, 2028, there must be no unpaid insurance premiums in the year leading up to the day before the date of the first visit or the date of death, up to the month before the date of the first visit or the date of death.

Application Destination

Fuchu Pension Office, City Hall Insurance and Pension Division, Hirao Branch Office, Wakabadai Branch Office
(Note) You can apply for the Student Payment Special Exception electronically from the My Number Portal.

• Electronic Application for National Pension Procedures

Required Items for Application

1. Identification documents (My Number Card, driver's license, etc.)

2. Notification of Basic Pension Number or Pension Handbook

3. Student ID or enrollment certificate indicating the period of enrollment

4. Those who have become unemployed must provide one of the following documents (copies are acceptable)
"Employment Insurance Insured Person's Separation Notice" "Employment Insurance Eligibility Notification or Employment Insurance Beneficiary Certificate" "Employment Insurance Insured Person Qualification Loss Confirmation Notification" "Employment Insurance Insured Person Qualification Acquisition Notification Confirmation Inquiry Response"

Notes

If you have received approval for the Student Payment Special Provision, you can retroactively pay the premiums for a period within 10 years (additional payment). However, if you make additional payments for the premiums starting from the third year after the year following the approved period, an additional amount corresponding to the elapsed period will be added to the premiums at that time.

For more details, please check the Japan Pension Service website.

• Japan Pension Service Website(External Link)

The Japan Pension Service provides easy-to-understand videos about the National Pension system, its benefits, payment methods, and procedures for exemptions for those who have turned 20 years old.
Please see the following link for the video.

• Information on Joining the National Pension and Insurance Premiums(External Link)

Contact Information

Insurance and Pension Division Phone 042-378-2111 Extension 142, 143
Fuchu Pension Office
Postal Code 183-8505
Address: 2-12 Fuchucho, Fuchu City
Phone 042-361-1011