Injury & Sickness Allowance (Shobyo Teate): Eligibility & Amount [2026]

The injury and sickness allowance (shobyo teate-kin) is paid by your company health insurance when you cannot work and receive no wage due to illness or injury. Foreign residents are eligible if enrolled in Social Insurance for Foreigners (company health insurance). National Health Insurance generally does not provide it.

① Conditions

• You are a member of company health insurance (Social Insurance)
• You cannot work due to a non-work-related illness or injury
• After 3 consecutive days off (3-day waiting period), it covers days off from the 4th day
• No wage is paid for those days (if partly paid, the difference)

② Amount

Per day = the average standard monthly wage over the 12 months before it starts ÷ 30 × two-thirds (about 67%) — roughly two-thirds of your wage.

③ Period

Up to 1 year and 6 months in total from the start day (since the 2022 change, periods when you returned to work are excluded and the rest is counted cumulatively).

④ How to claim

Submit a sickness allowance claim form to your insurer (Kyokai Kenpo or your health insurance society). It needs a doctor statement and an employer statement, usually filed per period of absence.

While receiving the sickness allowance (roughly two-thirds of your usual pay), some people also look at ways to reduce their largest fixed cost — housing.

FAQ

Can foreigners receive it?Yes, if enrolled in company health insurance (Social Insurance).

Is it available on National Health Insurance?Generally no (some local exceptions exist).

How much is it?Roughly two-thirds of your standard wage per day.