Unemployment Benefit Calculator for Japan (Basic Allowance)
Enter your age at separation, your average monthly pay over the last six months, your employment insurance period and the reason you left (resigned, laid off, contract not renewed, or resigned for a justified reason). The tool estimates the daily basic allowance of Japan's employment insurance, the number of benefit days, the total you could receive, the 7-day waiting period and the benefit restriction after resigning (currently one month in most cases). The wage limits and benefit rates (50-80%, or 45-80% for ages 60-64) are revised every August, so the basis year is stated. Everything runs in your browser and nothing you type is sent to a server. For take-home pay see the Take-Home Pay Calculator, and to check unused leave before you quit see the Paid Leave Calculator.
🔒 Runs in your browser · Your data is never sent to a server
These results are rough estimates based on Japan's employment insurance rules and are not legal advice. Hello Work decides your actual eligibility, daily amount and benefit days, and the reason code on your separation notice or personal circumstances can change them. Please confirm with your local Hello Work office.
The average of the regular monthly pay you received in the six months before leaving, before tax, including overtime and commuting allowance but excluding bonuses.
Total time you were covered by employment insurance (see your separation notice or insurance certificate). For example, 8 years 6 months is 8 years and 6 months.
Only matters if you resigned. If it applies, the benefit restriction is 3 months instead of 1.
How to use
- Enter "Age at separation" and "Average monthly pay, last 6 months" (before tax, excluding bonuses).
- Enter how long you were insured under "Insured period (years)" and "Insured period (months)".
- Choose "Reason for leaving". If you resigned, tick "Resigned 3 or more times in the past 5 years" when it applies.
- Read the daily allowance, benefit days, total estimate, waiting period and benefit restriction.
Notes
- Basis year: the upper limits of the daily allowance (daily wage cap x rate) are the amounts in force from 1 August 2026: 7,450 yen under 30, 8,270 yen for 30-44, 9,110 yen for 45-59 and 7,830 yen for 60-64. The lower limit of the daily wage (3,203 yen) and the rate breakpoints (5,480 and 13,490 yen; 12,120 yen for ages 60-64) are also the values from 1 August 2026. All are revised every 1 August.
- The daily amount is an estimate based on the formulas published by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare. Because the daily wage is simplified (monthly pay x 6 / 180), the amount Hello Work decides can differ by a few to a few dozen yen.
- The daily wage is the total pay over the last six months (excluding bonuses) divided by 180. This tool multiplies your monthly average by 6, so month-to-month differences before leaving are not reflected.
- An insured month is a month with 11 or more paid days. The period is counted over the last 2 years (1 year for laid-off workers and specified reasons). This tool uses the period you enter as is and does not verify how it was counted.
- The 7-day waiting period applies to everyone. For resignations on or after 1 April 2025 the benefit restriction is normally 1 month, or 3 months if you resigned 3 or more times in 5 years. Taking approved training can lift it, and dismissal for serious misconduct carries a separate 3-month restriction.
- A worker whose fixed-term contract was not renewed gets the same benefit days as a laid-off worker only if the separation date is on or before 31 March 2027. Check for rule changes after that.
- Not covered: age 65 and over (lump-sum payment for older workers), workers with disabilities who have difficulty finding work, daily workers, seasonal workers, claim window extensions, and add-ons such as reemployment or sickness allowances. Fraudulent claims must be repaid with penalties.
Glossary
Daily wage and daily basic allowance
The daily wage is your total pay over the last six months (excluding bonuses) divided by 180. The daily basic allowance is that amount times the benefit rate (50-80%, or 45-80% for ages 60-64); lower earners get a higher rate.
Specified qualifying job losers and specified reasons
Specified qualifying job losers are people who lost their jobs through bankruptcy or dismissal without time to prepare. Specified-reason leavers include people whose fixed-term contract was not renewed and people who resigned for a justified reason such as illness or caregiving. They can get more benefit days and qualify with 6 months of insurance.
Waiting period and benefit restriction
The waiting period is the first 7 days after you register for job seeking, with no payment. The benefit restriction is a further period without payment after waiting if you resigned, currently 1 month in most cases.
Benefit days
The maximum number of days you can be paid (90 to 360), set by the reason for leaving, age and insured period. You are paid for days certified every four weeks, and the rest is not paid once you find work.
FAQ
How is the daily basic allowance calculated?
Take your total pay for the last six months (excluding bonuses), divide by 180 to get the daily wage, then apply a benefit rate of 50-80% (45-80% for ages 60-64). Lower earners get a higher rate, and the daily wage has age-based upper and lower limits revised every August. This tool derives the daily wage from your average monthly pay.
How soon can I get paid after resigning?
After you register for job seeking and are found eligible, everyone has a 7-day waiting period. If you resigned, there is a further benefit restriction, normally 1 month for separations on or after 1 April 2025 (3 months if you resigned 3 or more times in 5 years). Laid-off workers have no restriction. Payment follows the first unemployment certification after those periods.
How many days of benefit will I get?
If you resigned, it does not depend on age: 90 days for 1 to under 10 years of insurance, 120 days for 10 to under 20 years and 150 days for 20 years or more. If you were laid off, it ranges from 90 to 330 days by age and insured period, for example 330 days for ages 45-59 with 20 or more years.
How long do I need to have worked to qualify?
If you resigned, you need at least 12 insured months in the last 2 years. If you were laid off or your fixed-term contract was not renewed, 6 insured months in the last year is enough. A month counts as insured if you were paid for 11 or more days in it.
Can I calculate this if I am 65 or older, or have a disability?
No. Workers aged 65 and over receive a lump-sum benefit for older workers (30 or 50 days of the daily allowance) instead, and people with disabilities who have difficulty finding work have separate benefit days. This tool is an estimate for general insured workers under 65.
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