Lump-Sum Birth Allowance (Shussan Ikuji Ichijikin)

What Is the Lump-Sum Birth Allowance?

The lump-sum birth allowance (出産育児一時金 — しゅっさんいくじいちじきん / shussan ikuji ichijikin) is a payment provided by Japan's public health insurance system to help cover the cost of childbirth. Because natural childbirth is not covered by health insurance in Japan, this allowance exists to ease the financial burden on families.

It is available to anyone enrolled in Japanese public health insurance — including international families on National Health Insurance (国民健康保険 — こくみんけんこうほけん) or employer-sponsored insurance (社会保険 — しゃかいほけん). Nationality does not affect eligibility.

How Much Do You Receive?

Who Qualifies?

You are eligible if you meet all of the following:

• You are enrolled in Japanese public health insurance at the time of birth
• Your pregnancy was at least 4 months (85 days) along

This includes:

• Employees on shakai hoken (社会保険 — しゃかいほけん — employer health insurance)
• Residents on kokumin kenko hoken (国民健康保険 — こくみんけんこうほけん — National Health Insurance)
• International families enrolled in either of the above

3 Ways to Receive the Payment

There are three methods for receiving the allowance. The right method for you depends on your hospital and situation.

① Direct payment system (直接支払制度 — ちょくせつしはらいせいど) — Used by about 90% of parents

The hospital applies to your insurer on your behalf and receives the ¥500,000 directly. You only pay the difference at discharge.

• If the total bill is more than ¥500,000 — you pay the difference at the hospital
• If the total bill is less than ¥500,000 — the remaining balance is paid to you by your insurer after discharge

You sign a consent form at the hospital — no additional paperwork is required from you.

② Proxy receipt system (受取代理制度 — うけとりだいりせいど)

Used mainly at smaller clinics that are not set up for the direct payment system. You apply to your insurer before birth, naming the hospital as your representative. The process and outcome are similar to the direct payment system.

③ Postnatal claim (産後申請方式 — さんごしんせいほうしき)

You pay the full delivery costs at the hospital, then claim the allowance back from your insurer afterwards. This is used for home births or overseas births, or when the hospital does not offer the other methods.

Step-by-Step: What to Do

Using the direct payment system (most common)

1. During pregnancy — Ask your hospital whether they offer the direct payment system. Almost all do.
2. At hospital admission — Sign the consent form (意思確認書 — いしかくにんしょ) that the hospital provides. This authorises the hospital to claim on your behalf.
3. At discharge — Pay only the amount above ¥500,000. If the total was under ¥500,000, you pay nothing and apply separately for the balance.
4. After discharge (if bill was under ¥500,000) — Your insurer will contact you. Submit the balance claim form to receive the remaining amount.

Using the postnatal claim method

1. Pay the full delivery cost at the hospital and keep the receipt (領収書 — りょうしゅうしょ).
2. Download or collect the application form (出産育児一時金支給申請書 — しゅっさんいくじいちじきんしきゅうしんせいしょ) from your insurer.
3. Submit the form with your receipt, hospital birth certificate, and bank account details.
4. The allowance is paid to your bank account — usually within 10 business days of approval.

Application Deadline

You must apply within 2 years from the day after the birth. After this deadline, the benefit cannot be claimed.

📖 Japanese Vocabulary

Key terms used in this article — useful if you need to speak with a hospital or government office in Japan.