Date: Fri, 21 Jun 2002 08:04:28 +0900
From: "Steve van Dresser" <svd@fine.ocn.ne.jp>
Subject: [ISSHO] Re: Pensions

Qn. Did you become a permanent resident when you arrived at the age of 44 and they just backdated the pension to the age of 20 to include the karakikan? Does it matter when you become a permanent resident?

Ans: I became a resident four years ago. It doesn't matter when you become a permanent resident. I heard that the law was instituted to accomodate the UN accord on the status of refugees. People coming from another country shouldn't be penalized for not having spent their entire lives in Japan.

The place for more information on this is the Social Insurance Office, "Shakai Hoken Jimusho," a national governmental office. The city office had different rules and information, but the Shakai Hoken rules trump the city rules and after the two offices consulted, they agreed that I was qualified.

The Shakai Hoken Jimusho actually does the certification of the Karakikan and determines the eligibility for Kokumin Nenkin pension benefits. The Kosei Nenkin relies on those certifications for their own determination of benefits.

I found out about the Karakikan at the Shakai Hoken Jimusho in Miyazaki, and actually qualified at the office in Yokohama. So, at least two offices provided me with the same information and qualified me for benefits.

Since I only contributed to Kosei Nenkin for five years, I presently get less than \20,000 per month. I am still contributing to Kokumin Nenkin and expect to get considerably more when I reach 65. In any case, since I expected to get nothing, it has been a pleasant surprise.

Steve

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