The basic allowance under the employment insurance system is aimed to provide support for workers who become unemployed and lose income. Its amount or the restriction time until it is paid vary according to the reason for leaving the company, the age at the time of leaving or the period of being insured. This articles looks at the restriction time until the benefit is paid.
[Benefit restriction period]
The employment insurance system sets a seven-day wait period following the date a worker is determined eligible for basic allowance, regardless of the reason for leaving a company. Workers who left a company due to their personal circumstances without legitimate grounds, the basic allowance will be withheld for another 1 to 3 months.
The restriction period has been reduced from three months to two months for workers whose day of separation from service is October 1, 2020, or after. For those whose separation day is April 1, 2025, or after, the period has been shortened further to one month. However, the period will be three months for workers who left company twice or more over the past five years for their personal reasons and became qualified for the benefit. In the case of workers dismissed for serious reasons attributable to themselves, the restriction period will be three months.
[2] Cancellation of restriction period by educational training
From April 2025, the restriction period will be cancelled for workers who are receiving educational training for reskilling. Those who started taking designated training after April 1, 2025, can receive the basic allowance. Workers who received designated training in the year before leaving a company can also receive the basic allowance immediately after the seven-day wait period.
[3] Cancellation procedure
For cancelling the restriction period, workers need to report to the Public Employment Security Office (Hello Work) after starting the training before the basic allowance qualification is determined or the first unemployment recognition day (in the case a worker started training after the first recognition day, the next recognition day after starting the training.)
A special attention is required if the restriction period is two month or more and a worker starts training after the first unemployment recognition day and during the restriction period.
1. If a worker starts training between “the first unemployment recognition day” and “the next scheduled unemployment recognition day,” the report must be made before “the next scheduled unemployment recognition day.”
2. If a worker starts training between “a scheduled unemployment recognition day” and “the first unemployment recognition day that comes after the restriction period expiration,” the report must be made before “the first unemployment recognition day that comes after the restriction period expiration.”
When reporting, workers are required to submit a document, such as a receipt indicating the training start date or a certificate including the training start date issued by the training facility.
The procedure for receiving the basic allowance must be undertaken by workers after quitting, but companies often receive questions from their employees about the procedure. It is advisable to understand the outline of the system.
[Reference]
The Ministry of Labour, “The restriction period can be cancelled and the basic allowance will be paid by receiving training after April 2025”
https://www.mhlw.go.jp/stf/seisakunitsuite/bunya/0000160564_00045.html
