Child and Child-Rearing Support Contribution System
(Starting April 2026)
The Child and Child-Rearing Support Contribution System is a new framework designed to support child-rearing households across society and combat the declining birthrate.
Starting in April 2026, contributions will be collected alongside health insurance premiums to fund the expansion of child allowances, benefits for expectant mothers and parents, and childcare support.
The contribution for the child and child-rearing support system is calculated based on the standard monthly remuneration. In employee insurance, the burden is shared between the employer and the insured.
The collected support contributions are managed separately from health insurance premiums and are used by the government exclusively for childcare-related measures.
Collection Process for the Child and Child-Rearing Support Contribution
Commencement Date
Effective from the April 2026 premiums (payable in May), these payments will be collected by health insurance associations in conjunction with health and long-term care insurance premiums.
Effective through March 2026 premiums
Effective from April 2026 premiums
Eligibility
The Child and Childcare Support Contribution is collected from all insured persons, regardless of age or dependent status.
* Those on maternity or childcare leave are exempt from this contribution, consistent with health insurance premiums.
Support Contribution Amount
Calculation Method for Support Contributions
- Monthly Support Contribution
= Monthly Standard Remuneration × Contribution Rate - Support Contribution for Bonuses
= Standard Bonus Amount × Contribution Rate
* The contribution rate is set uniformly by the government, and for fiscal year 2026, it is 0.23%.
The rate is expected to be gradually increased, reaching approximately 0.4% from fiscal year 2028 onwards.
* The cost of the contribution is split equally between the employer and the insured person.
Please refer to the following for detailed amounts.
Home > Health Insurance System > Insurance Premiums and Standard Monthly Remuneration
Use of Support Contributions
Children and Child-Rearing Support Contributions are earmarked exclusively for the following measures and cannot be used for any other purpose.
- Expansion of the Child Allowance (extension to high school-age children, abolition of income limits, additional benefits for the third and subsequent children, etc.)
- Support benefits for pregnant women (100,000 yen at the time of pregnancy and childbirth)
- Postnatal Leave Support Benefits / Shortened Working Hours for Childcare Support Benefits
- Universal Access to Early Childhood Education and Care (Infant and Toddler Support Benefits)
- Exemption from National Pension contributions during childcare periods for Category I insured persons
- Redemption of Special Children and Child-Rearing Support Government Bonds, etc.
These uses are stipulated by the Children and Child-Rearing Support Act; the Payment Fund aggregates the contributions and pays them to the national government.