Pension reporting deadline for Kumamoto earthquake victims extended to December 28

The Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare has decided to extend the deadline for the submission of reports until December 28, 2026, for eligible recipients of insurance benefits in the form of pensions under the Industrial Accident Compensation Insurance Act, and special survivors’ pensions under the Act on Asbestos Health Damage Relief, in order to support the victims of the 2026 Kumamoto Earthquake. This measure was published in the Official Gazette (Extra Edition No. 178) dated September 2, 2026, as Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare Notification No. 333 and No. 334.

The eligible recipients are those who had an address as of July 28, 2026, within the areas of municipalities where the Disaster Relief Act (Act No. 118 of 1947) was applied during the 2026 Kumamoto Earthquake. Both notifications, signed by Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare Kenichiro Ueno, aim to reduce the procedural burden on affected recipients.

Extension of Reporting Deadline for Industrial Accident Compensation Pensions

Notification No. 333 exceptionally modifies the date designated by the Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare (Ministry of Labour Notification No. 109 of 1988) as the date by which recipients of insurance benefits in the form of pensions must submit their reports, based on Article 21, Paragraph 1 of the Ordinance for Enforcement of the Industrial Accident Compensation Insurance Act.

Eligible recipients are limited to those whose date of birth (or, in the case of recipients of survivors’ compensation pensions, survivors’ pensions for workers employed by multiple businesses, or survivors’ pensions, the date of birth of the worker whose circumstances gave rise to the benefit) falls in a month from July to December. Regardless of previous regulations, the date by which such recipients must submit their reports in 2026 shall be December 28 of the same year.

Asbestos Special Survivors’ Pensions Also Covered

Notification No. 334 implements similar extension measures for recipients of special survivors’ pensions (Article 59, Paragraph 2 of the Act on Asbestos Health Damage Relief = Act No. 4 of 2006), based on Article 14, Paragraph 1 of the Ordinance for Enforcement of the Act on Asbestos Health Damage Relief related to the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare.

Similarly, this applies to recipients who had an address as of July 28, 2026, within the areas of municipalities where the Disaster Relief Act was applied, and whose deceased worker (etc.), whose circumstances gave rise to the payment of said special survivors’ pension, had a date of birth falling in a month from July to December. The deadline for the submission of reports is likewise set for December 28, 2026.

Key Eligibility Conditions

• Target Areas: Municipalities where the Disaster Relief Act was applied in response to the 2026 Kumamoto Earthquake
• Residency Requirement: Must have a registered address in the said area as of July 28, 2026
• Date of Birth Requirement: The month of birth of the individual or the deceased worker must fall between July and December
• Extended Deadline: December 28, 2026
• Legal Basis: Industrial Accident Compensation Insurance Act (Act No. 50 of 1947), Act on Asbestos Health Damage Relief (Act No. 4 of 2006)

Impact on Victims

The purpose of this extension measure is to ensure that eligible recipients affected by the earthquake have sufficient time to prepare the necessary documents and complete the procedures required for submitting the report. Eligible recipients may submit their reports by December 28 instead of the previously designated date.

Source: Official Gazette, September 2, 2026, Extra Edition No. 178 (Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare Notification No. 333 and No. 334, Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare Kenichiro Ueno)