For a post-employment budget, separate the daily amount, the number of payable days and when entitlement starts. Japan’s unemployment benefit is commonly called shitsugyo teate; the formal benefit covered here is the employment insurance basic benefit.
This guide covers general insured workers under 65 using August 1, 2026 rates. Hello Work decides the individual category, eligibility and amount.
Estimate your own Japan unemployment benefit
What changes with the separation reason?
For the same age and wages, the daily-rate formula is the same. Recent insurance requirements, prescribed days and restrictions differ.
| Condition | Ordinary voluntary resignation | Qualifying company-related separation |
|---|---|---|
| Recent qualifying months | Normally 12 in the preceding 2 years | Normally 6 in the preceding year |
| Prescribed days | 90, 120 or 150 | 90–330 depending on age and insurance duration |
| Waiting period | 7 days | 7 days |
| Restriction after waiting | Normally 1 month | Normally none |
The company category assumes recognition as a specified eligible recipient, such as bankruptcy or dismissal excluding serious misconduct. You must also be willing and able to work and actively seek employment. Hello Work: basic benefit and eligibility
How much? An example with ¥300,000 monthly wages
Normally, gross wages for the last six months ÷ 180 gives the wage per day. Include overtime and commuting allowances and exclude bonuses. Use gross pay before deductions.
For a 35-year-old with steady wages:
| Average monthly gross wages | Daily benefit | Illustration for 28 payable days |
|---|---|---|
| ¥180,000 | ¥4,683 | ¥131,124 |
| ¥270,000 | ¥6,013 | ¥168,364 |
| ¥300,000 | ¥6,307 | ¥176,596 |
At ¥300,000, six-month wages of ¥1.8 million give a wage per day of ¥10,000. The official declining-rate formula gives a benefit of ¥6,307 after truncation to whole yen. The 28-day illustration is not a fixed monthly payment. MHLW: calculation formula
August 2026 daily caps are ¥7,450 below age 30, ¥8,270 at 30–44, ¥9,110 at 45–59 and ¥7,830 at 60–64. The minimum is ¥2,562. Rates are revised each August. MHLW: rate revision
How long can it last?
Ordinary voluntary resignation
| Countable insured period | Prescribed days |
|---|---|
| 1 to under 10 years | 90 |
| 10 to under 20 years | 120 |
| 20 years or more | 150 |
Qualifying company-related separation
| Age at separation | Under 1 year | 1–under 5 | 5–under 10 | 10–under 20 | 20+ years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Under 30 | 90 | 90 | 120 | 180 | — |
| 30–34 | 90 | 120 | 180 | 210 | 240 |
| 35–44 | 90 | 150 | 180 | 240 | 270 |
| 45–59 | 90 | 180 | 240 | 270 | 330 |
| 60–64 | 90 | 150 | 180 | 210 | 240 |
Each row assumes the recent-month and other eligibility requirements are met and excludes the separate employment-difficulty category. At age 35, 10 insured years and ¥300,000 monthly wages, the illustration is 120 days / ¥756,840 for resignation, or 240 days / ¥1,513,680 for company separation. This assumes every day is paid at the same rate. Hello Work: prescribed days
When can payments begin?
For ordinary voluntary resignations from April 1, 2025, the normal restriction is one month. It is three months after at least two previous unjustified voluntary separations with qualification decisions within five years. Qualifying training can permit a waiver; confirm acceptance with Hello Work. MHLW: worker Q&A, Q20 onward
The seven-day wait counts unemployment days after the application and qualification process, not from the day you leave work. Transfers follow unemployment certification, normally every four weeks; the end of a restriction is not a bank transfer date. Hello Work: procedure
Check these details before relying on an estimate
- Total insurance duration differs from recent qualifying months. Earlier jobs may count, but gaps over a year and previous benefit claims can exclude periods. Qualifying months require at least 11 wage-basis days or 80 wage-basis hours.
- Labels alone do not decide eligibility. Justified resignations, contract non-renewals and employer-requested resignations may have different treatment. Serious-misconduct dismissal is outside the ordinary company category. Hello Work: recognized categories
- Prescribed days differ from the entitlement window. The window is normally one year from the day after separation, or one year plus 30 days for a 330-day award. Applying late can mean losing payable days.
Frequently asked questions
What if I am 65 or older?
A separate older-jobseeker benefit applies. This calculator does not estimate it as an ordinary basic benefit.
Will I receive the whole total if I work or find a new job?
Work and income must be reported and can change payable days and amounts. Early re-employment may qualify for a separate allowance. The displayed total also excludes annual revisions and extensions.
Calculate a conditional estimate
Official information checked November 8, 2026. This fixed-rate estimate does not replace Hello Work’s individual determination.
