Japan starts collecting the "Child and Child-Rearing Support Levy" (子ども・子育て支援金) — collected with medical insurance premiums from the April 2026 payment month
Source material is a Japanese government announcement (in Japanese); this page is a summary.
Japan's "Child and Child-Rearing Support Levy" (子ども・子育て支援金) began to be collected from every generation and from companies, together with medical insurance premiums, from the April 2026 (April of Reiwa 8) payment month.
Key facts
| When it starts | Collected with medical insurance premiums from the April 2026 (April of Reiwa 8) payment month. Members of employees' health insurance have it withheld from their May salary |
|---|---|
| Who pays | Members of the three medical insurance schemes — National Health Insurance, the Medical Care System for the Latter-Stage Elderly, and employees' health insurance (every generation, including older people, and companies) |
| Levy rate (uniform for employees' health insurance) | 0.23% for fiscal Reiwa 8 (split 1/2 insured person, 1/2 employer. Under National Health Insurance and the Medical Care System for the Latter-Stage Elderly, only the insured person pays) |
| Average monthly amount (fiscal Reiwa 8 estimate) | About 550 yen per insured person under employees' health insurance (health insurance societies) / about 300 yen per household under National Health Insurance / about 200 yen per insured person under the Medical Care System for the Latter-Stage Elderly |
| Total levy (phased introduction) | About 600 billion yen in fiscal Reiwa 8 → about 800 billion yen in fiscal Reiwa 9 → a target of about 1 trillion yen in fiscal Reiwa 10 |
| What it pays for | Expanded child allowance, the childcare access programme open to all children, the 100,000 yen benefit for expectant mothers, childcare leave benefits worth 100% of take-home pay, the shorter-working-hours benefit, and exemption from National Pension contributions during the child-rearing period, among others (by law limited to child-rearing support purposes) |
| Collection under National Health Insurance and the Latter-Stage Elderly system | The start of collection varies by insurer; the exact amount and timing are notified by payment notice in June or July |
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The Japanese government has begun collecting the "Child and Child-Rearing Support Levy" (子ども・子育て支援金) from every generation and from companies, together with medical insurance premiums, from the April 2026 (April of Reiwa 8) payment month, as part of the funding for expanded child-rearing support. The amount is set by the medical insurance scheme you belong to (National Health Insurance, the Medical Care System for the Latter-Stage Elderly, or employees' health insurance). Members of employees' health insurance have it withheld from their May salary, while members of National Health Insurance and the Medical Care System for the Latter-Stage Elderly are notified by payment notice in June or July, depending on the insurer. The total levy for fiscal Reiwa 8 is about 600 billion yen, expanding in stages after that (with a target of about 1 trillion yen in fiscal Reiwa 10). By law, the money collected may be used only for child-rearing support purposes.
Background — why this change
The expansion of child-rearing support set out in the government's "Children's Future Strategy — Acceleration Plan" (こども未来戦略「加速化プラン」), including the expanded child allowance and childcare leave benefits worth the equivalent of 100% of take-home pay, is already in place, and the law provides that from fiscal Reiwa 8 every generation, including older people, and companies contribute the "Child and Child-Rearing Support Levy" as part of the funding for it.
Summaries below are factual notes based on government announcements and primary sources — not evaluations or opinions.
Summaries reflect national-level programs. Municipal (city/ward/town) programs may differ — confirm with the official desk before applying.
FAQ
When and how do I pay it?
It is collected with medical insurance premiums from the April 2026 (April of Reiwa 8) payment month. Members of employees' health insurance have it withheld from their May salary. For members of National Health Insurance and the Medical Care System for the Latter-Stage Elderly, the start of collection varies by insurer, and the exact amount and timing are notified by payment notice in June or July.
How much do I pay?
On the fiscal Reiwa 8 estimated average monthly amounts, it is about 550 yen per insured person under employees' health insurance (health insurance societies), about 300 yen per household under National Health Insurance, and about 200 yen per insured person under the Medical Care System for the Latter-Stage Elderly. The uniform levy rate for employees' health insurance is 0.23%, split equally between the insured person and the employer.
What is the money used for?
It pays for the expanded child allowance, the childcare access programme open to all children, the 100,000 yen benefit for expectant mothers, childcare leave benefits worth 100% of take-home pay, the shorter-working-hours benefit, and exemption from National Pension contributions during the child-rearing period, among others. By law, the money collected may be used only for child-rearing support purposes.