Japan Childcare Leave, Maternity & Sickness Benefit Calculator
Enter your pay before leave or your standard monthly remuneration to estimate the childcare leave benefit (67% of daily wage for the first 180 days, 50% after that), the maternity allowance, and the sickness allowance (two-thirds of the standard daily remuneration for both). It is a rough estimate under current rules and not legal advice. To see monthly take-home pay while you work, try the Salary Take-Home Pay Calculator.
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This is not legal advice. The actual amount is decided by Hello Work and your health insurer.
Childcare leave benefit
Gross pay for the six months before leave started, averaged per month. Include overtime and commuting allowance, exclude bonuses.
Calendar days from the first to the last day of leave. Days beyond 180 are calculated at 50%.
If both parents take at least 14 days of leave soon after birth, up to 28 days get an extra 13%. Tick this only if you meet the conditions.
Maternity allowance
The grade-based monthly amount used by your health insurance (see your payslip or insurance notice). The real basis is the average of the last 12 months, so a rough figure from your gross monthly pay is fine for an estimate.
Late days are added to the pre-birth period. Leave at 0 if the birth was on time or early.
Sickness allowance
The grade-based monthly amount used by your health insurance (see your payslip or insurance notice). The real basis is the average of the last 12 months, so a rough figure from your gross monthly pay is fine for an estimate.
Include the first 3 waiting days. The allowance covers the days after that.
Rough estimate based on the daily wage cap (¥16,540) and floor (¥3,203) for employment insurance, revised 1 August 2026.
How to use
- Pick a benefit under "Benefit to calculate": childcare leave, maternity, or sickness.
- For childcare leave, enter "Average monthly pay in the 6 months before leave (JPY)" and "Days of childcare leave".
- For maternity and sickness, enter "Standard monthly remuneration (JPY)", then "Days the birth was after the due date" or "Consecutive days off work".
- The total and breakdown appear below. Confirm the real amount with the office that handles your claim.
Notes
- The childcare leave benefit is the daily wage at leave start (total pay for the 6 months before leave ÷ 180) × paid days × 67% (50% from day 181). The daily wage has an upper limit of ¥16,540 and a lower limit of ¥3,203 (revised 1 August 2026); these are reviewed every August.
- The post-birth leave support benefit adds 13% of the daily wage for up to 28 days (started April 2025). Together with the 67% it comes to 80%, and since social insurance premiums are waived during leave, take-home pay stays close to normal. It requires conditions such as both parents taking at least 14 days of leave. This tool assumes you meet them.
- If your employer pays wages during leave, the benefit may be reduced or stopped. This tool assumes no wages are paid.
- The maternity allowance is two-thirds of the standard daily remuneration (standard monthly remuneration ÷ 30, rounded to the nearest ¥10) for days off work within 42 days before the birth (98 for multiple births) and 56 days after. Late days are added to the pre-birth period. Days you did not take off, or days your employer paid wages, are excluded or reduced.
- The sickness allowance pays two-thirds of the standard daily remuneration from the fourth consecutive day off, after a 3-day waiting period. The payment period is 1.5 years from the first payment; this tool caps it at 548 days. Days with wages from your employer are reduced.
- The maternity and sickness allowances are for employees insured by employee health insurance such as Kyokai Kenpo, and generally not for National Health Insurance. The real basis is the average of the last 12 months of standard remuneration, but this tool uses only the figure you enter.
- These benefits are not taxed (no income tax or resident tax). Social insurance premiums are waived during childcare leave and during pre/postnatal leave, but generally not while receiving the sickness allowance.
- Caps and the base year change with reforms. This tool is an estimate using the 1 August 2026 wage limits and is not legal advice. Check the latest figures with Hello Work or your health insurer.
Glossary
Daily wage at leave start
The base for the childcare leave benefit: total pay for the 6 months before leave (excluding bonuses) divided by 180. It has an upper and lower limit revised every August.
Standard monthly / daily remuneration
Health insurance puts your pay into a grade to get a standard monthly amount used for premiums and benefits. The standard daily amount is that divided by 30, rounded to the nearest ¥10.
Post-birth leave support benefit
An extra 13% of the daily wage for up to 28 days when both parents take leave soon after birth. With the 67% benefit it totals 80%.
Waiting period
The first 3 consecutive days of absence for the sickness allowance, which are not paid. Paid leave or days off still count; payment starts on day 4.
FAQ
How much is the childcare leave benefit on a ¥300,000 salary?
If your average pay over the six months before leave is ¥300,000, your daily wage is ¥10,000. That gives about ¥201,000 per 30 days up to day 180 (67%) and about ¥150,000 from day 181 (50%). With the post-birth support benefit, up to 28 days get an extra 13%.
Is there a cap on the childcare leave benefit?
Yes. The daily wage is capped at ¥16,540 (revised 1 August 2026), which works out to about ¥332,000 per 30 days at 67% and about ¥248,000 at 50%. The cap and the floor are reviewed every August.
How long is the maternity allowance paid, and how much?
It covers days you take off within 42 days before the birth (98 for multiple births) and 56 days after, at two-thirds of your standard daily remuneration. If the birth is later than the due date, the extra days are added to the pre-birth period.
What is the waiting period for the sickness allowance?
It is the first three consecutive days off work, which are not paid. From the fourth day you receive two-thirds of the standard daily remuneration, for up to 1.5 years in total from the first payment.
Why can my actual payment differ from this estimate?
This tool is a simple estimate from the pay or standard remuneration you enter. The real amount depends on the wage check for each payment period, any wages from your employer, and the 12-month average of your standard remuneration. Confirm with the office that processes your claim.
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