Comments on: Getting a National Pension Payment Rebate When Leaving Japan as a “Lump-sum Withdrawal Payment”

By: rkl

rkl — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 08:12:07 +0000

If i remember it right, it took around 4 months to get the pension refund.

By: Turner

Turner — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 08:07:20 +0000

How long did it take you to receive the refund?

By: rkl

rkl — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 07:54:44 +0000

I was able to claim my pension refund and this time am hoping to get a refund on the 20% tax imposed to it. The thing is, I failed to nominate a tax agent before leaving Japan. I understand this is a requirement to claim the tax refund. Given so, how do I claim the tax refund? Can I nominate a tax agent now?

By: Mick

Mick — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 13:22:15 +0000

I paid 5 months into the pension system, then took a Leave of Absence due to a family emergency, during which time my were not made.

Now I am in the process of resigning, and will stay at home, but I want to pay one more month into the system.

Would that make me eligible for a six-month lump sum refund?

By: vicky

vicky — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 14:52:17 +0000

I left Japan in March 2007 and i send the claim form and all the documents in Jan 2008.But i haven\’t got any money back till now.So can anyone tell me how much time it takes to get the money back and also whome should i contact as i don\’t know Japanese.

By: Turner

Turner — Sun, 27 Apr 2008 13:19:34 +0000

Nope - you must apply within two years of leaving Japan.

By: Trudi

Trudi — Sun, 27 Apr 2008 05:06:42 +0000

Hi, I worked in Japan for five years but left five years ago. I didn’t know I could claim my payments back. Is there any hope for me applying now?

By: Turner

Turner — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 02:12:21 +0000

I’m pondering the same situation myself… I was with AEON from 2006-2007, when they were still on part-time schedules (thus, no pension or insurance the first year), and then moved into a company which uses the shakai hoken. The national pension office already sent me a bill requiring me to pay for the few weeks I was technically unemployed (backpayments, of course), and I’m planning a move to Tokyo next month (June 2008).

When I move to Tokyo, I think I will most likely ignore the bill from the national pension scheme, skip the national pension and insurance window when I change my address, and continue enrolling in the shakai hoken for health care, ignoring pension entirely… think the national pension system’s paperwork will catch up to me when I apply for a lump-sum withdrawal next year? Can you even get a withdrawal for both the national and employee’s pension, if you’ve paid into both systems (if I’m cornered for some reason)?

By: Gavin

Gavin — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 05:30:53 +0000

Thanks Bone. But even if I move to a different KU won\’t I still need to get de-registered? My pension deductions are automotically taken off my paycheck each month. Thank you

By: Charles Jannuzi

Charles Jannuzi — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 01:43:10 +0000

About the totalization agreement between US and Japan. It sounds nice, but at least two obstacles stand in the way:

1. I need to get the retirement insurance office in Japan to accept my documentation of my work record in the US with the retirement office.

2. I need to document my work record in the US prior to coming to Japan.

I do have a social security record from the US. Will report back how this goes.
I would bet the people at the local office will jump when they see me, see my social security record in English, and then wonder what totalization agreement I’m talking about.
Still, being able to add 10 years of employment to my total years will help. But wait, what if it is part-time work?