What you can do and Where you can go for help when your Income is affected by the New Corona Virus

The spread of the new coronavirus infection has not stopped, and our lives are beginning to be affected.

Many people are in trouble because they have trouble paying for rent, living expenses, and high utility costs, and they have nothing to eat today.

The NPO POSSE, for which the author is the secretary-general, receives about 2,000 work and life consultations annually from around the country.

As a social worker, he was consulted by people in need of living, supported the use of welfare systems, and worked on solving poverty.

In this article, as a social welfare expert, he would like to explain public systems that can be used in the following cases as clearly as possible.

(1) When salary has decreased

(2) When you have lost your job

(3) When you cannot go to hospital without money

(4) If you are having difficulty paying your child's tuition

(5) When there is nothing to eat tomorrow

1. When income has decreased

In the food and beverage service industry, measures have been taken to reduce the scale of business and many employees are required to take leave due to the impact of the new corona.

As a result, the salary is reduced, and this are the systems that can be used when you are in trouble.

(1) Special lending for welfare funds (生活福祉資金の特例貸付-Seikatsu fukushi shikin no tokurei kashitsuke)

This is a public lending system that can be used when you are in trouble for your life.

Special measures have been taken based on the impact of the new corona, and loans of up to 800,000 yen (200,000 yen for emergency small-lot funds, 600,000 yen for general support funds) can be used.

It is also available to sole proprietors and freelancers, as well as those employed.

● Emergency small fund (緊急小口資金-Kinkyū koguchi shikin)

You can use it when you need money for temporary livelihood maintenance.

・ Eligible: Households affected by the new coronavirus, whose income has decreased due to leave of absence, etc., and   

                  require urgent and temporary loans to maintain their livelihood.

・ Where to consult: 社会福祉協議会(Shakai fukushi kyōgi-kai) - Social welfare council of local government where you live

・ Loan amount: up to 100,000 yen (up to 200,000 yen if exception is recognized)

・ Days until funds are released : about one week after application

・ Points: Interest-free, no guarantor required

 ・Deferment period: within one year

・ Redemption period: within 2 years

* If the household is exempt from resident tax at the start of repayment and the income continues to decrease, there is a possibility that the repayment will be exempted.

 ● 総合支援資金 (Sōgō shien shikin) Comprehensive support fund

   If temporary lending alone is not enough, consider using general support funds.

・ Target: Households affected by the new corona, suffering from poor living due to reduced income and unemployment, and having difficulty maintaining daily life.

・ Contact: 社会福祉協議会 (Shakai fukushi kyōgi-kai) Social Welfare Council in your area

・ Loan amount: 200,000 yen / month for households with 2 or more people, 150,000 yen / month for single person

・ Usage period: within 3 months in principle

・ Days until release of fund: At least 20 days after application

・ Point: Can be used together with emergency small funds. No interest and no guarantor required

・Deferment period: within one year

・ Redemption period: within 10 years

* The repayment may be exempted under the same conditions as emergency small-lot loans.

Unlike debt such as credit cards and card loans, these are public lending schemes created for the purpose of rebuilding lives.

If you have any difficulties in life, you may want to go to your local social welfare council first.

[Reference] "Information on temporary lending of funds"

 (2) Payment of mobile phone charges 

     The grace fee cannot be paid, and communication stops, which makes it difficult to obtain job hunting information, information when in need, or when in need. Please contact us when payment is difficult.

・ Contact: contracted mobile phone company

(3) Postponement of utility charges

     If you use emergency small funds, you may be allowed to postpone the payment of electricity and gas charges.

・ Contact: Contractor for electricity and gas charges

     Water rates are based on your local water authority

※ Even if you do not use emergency small-lot funds, you may be allowed to postpone the payment if your income is decreasing due to the new coronavirus.

[Reference] "About postponement of payment of water and sewerage charges due to the spread of new coronavirus"

(4) Postponement of taxes and social insurance premiums

     National health insurance premiums, long-term care insurance premiums, national pension insurance premiums

・ Contact:  Contact your government office

● Employees' pension insurance premiums

・ Contact: pension office

● Taxes (city tax, property tax, etc.)

・ Contact: The nearest tax office where you live

* There is a possibility that the grace period of the payment period, exemption of all or part of the arrears during the grace period, seizure and sale of property may be postponed.

2. When you have lost your job

This is a system that can be used in the event that the company in which the person has been working has fallen into a slump due to the effects of the new corona and has to be leave his/her job.

(1) Employment insurance system and conditions of use: Must have worked for over a year before leaving work.

     In the case of bankruptcy or dismissal, must have worked for more than 6 months.

・ Contact: Hello Work in your area

・ Estimated amount of receivable: about 50-80% of salary for 6 months 

・ Points: A "離職票(rishoku-hyō) separation slip" issued by the company is required for application

* Please note the reason for leaving. If the reason for leaving the job is "personal convenience(自己都合-jiko tsugō) ", the benefit will be restricted for three months.

If a company is in poor business due to the effects of the new corona and you are forced to retire and leaves the company, it is usually "company convenience (会社都合-kaisha tsugō)" retirement.

However, in some cases, even for company reasons, the description is different from the facts for personal reasons. If you retire, please be careful to have "Company convenience (会社都合-kaisha tsugō)" written on your turnover slip.

[Reference] "To those who have left the job" (Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare pamphlet)

(2) Comprehensive support fund (総合支援資金 -Sōgō shien shikin)

・ Usage conditions: When the conditions for using employment insurance are not met 

     When the employment insurance(Koyō hoken) period has expired

* The window and the amount of money that can be received are the same as the general support fund explained in (1) 

(3) Housing security (住居確保-Jūkyo kakuho) 

     This is a system that can be used with unemployment benefits or the closure of self employment if there is a risk of losing a home or dwelling.

* In response to the new corona, "The reason why the opportunity to get salary, etc. should be attributed to the individual's liability, or the person's convenience is decreasing without regard to the individual's circumstances "" will be added to the list.

Even if you have not left your job, you can still use the system if your income decreases due to the new corona.

・ Contact: "Independent consultation support organization"(自立相談支援機関-jiritsu sōdan shien kikan) near you (search on the websites of the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare and prefectures)

・ Conditions: Persons who are likely to lose their home due to decreased income or separation from work.

                         Household income and assets are below a certain amount

・ Amount to be paid: equivalent to rent

・ Payment period: 3 months in principle, up to 9 months

* There is an upper limit on the amount of payment, which differs depending on the area and the number of households.

(4) Welfare protection system (生活保護制度 - Seikatsu hogo seido)

・ Conditions: Employment insurance cannot be used and temporary lending alone does not make a living.

                        Revenue is less than "minimum living expenses" and does not have expensive assets

・ Window: Local welfare office to live (livelihood protection section 生活保護課 - seikatsu hogo-ka)

・ Method of procedure: Please "apply" the use of welfare system at window.

There is a review of income and assets that meet the conditions, and if they meet the conditions, financial support will be started.

・ Estimated days until you receive financial support: Within 14 days in principle from application to decision

・  If you do not have the finances to use while waiting for the financial support, you can use a loan within 100,000 yen         

     (no guarantor required, no interest).

* Even if you have a working income, you can use it if the income is below the minimum living expenses.

Minimum living expenses vary by region and number of households.

If you are a single person in Tokyo, monthly income is about 130,000 yen.

[Reference] "To you," it's a bit tricky "-welfare you can use" (Nipponrenren brochure)

3. When you cannot go to the hospital due to lack of money

● Free low-cost medical treatment business (無料低額診療事業 - Muryō teigaku shinryō jigyō)

・ Contact: Search by "prefecture where you live + free low-cost medical treatment business"

Visit or contact a medical consultation room at a free low-cost clinic to discuss the situation with a so-called “medical social worker” or “medical consultant”.

4. If you are having difficulty paying your child's tuition

If you are having difficulty paying for admission fees and tuition due to the new corona, MEXT has issued a notice to reduce or exempt the payment and provide grace.

① High school enrollment fee and tuition reduction / exemption, payment postponement, 

window: Municipal board of Education or where you go to school (自治体の教育委員会 - Jichitai no kyōiku iinkai)

・ Conditions: When the economic situation deteriorates due to the influence of the new corona

②Examination of tuition fees and scholarships for universities and vocational schools Exemption and reduction of university entrance fees and tuition fees 

Consider using the “New Higher Education Study Support System” and “loan-type scholarships”.

● New system for higher education study support 高等教育修学支援新制度( Kōtō kyōiku shūgaku shien shin seido)

・ Window: Student section of each university, technical school

・ Eligible: Resident tax-exempt households / applicable household students (for a four-person household, the standard is 3.8 million yen or less)

 If households change suddenly, judge by income (expected) after sudden change

・ Contents: Exemption from tuition fees and tuition, reduction. Payment of scholarships

● Lending type scholarship 貸与型奨学金 taiyo-gata shōgakkin

・ Contact: Scholarship contact at each university / vocational school

Japan Student Services Organization Scholarship Consultation Center

日本学生支援機構 奨学金相談センター nihongakuseishienkikō shōgakkin sōdan sentā

・ Target: Students whose part-time job income has decreased and if their households have changed suddenly due to the new corona

・ Contents: You can apply for loan type scholarships overseas.

[Reference] "Students who need to pay tuition due to the effects of the new coronavirus infection

5. When there is nothing to eat tomorrow

If you have nothing to eat tomorrow and you're stuck, you may want to use a food bank along with your application for welfare.

● Welfare protection system 生活保護制度(Seikatsu hogo seido) * Please refer to no. 2. (4) above.

● Food bank

・ Contact: Government office, welfare office, Second Harvest Japan (Tokyo, Kanagawa, Saitama)

・ Point: Please tell at the counter that you are having a problem eating and want to use a food bank.

If you live in Tokyo, Kanagawa or Saitama, you can use personally.

Please contact Second Harvest Japan to request your use.

If you live in another area, please contact the government office.

[Reference] Second Harvest Japan HP セカンドハーベスト・ジャパンHP

■ Free consultation counter about living poverty

NPO corporation POSSE

Phone number 03-6693-6313 (Monday, Wednesday, Friday 18-21, Saturday, Sunday and public holidays 13-17)

Email consultation: soudan@npoposse.jp

* Social workers and trained volunteer staff are available for consultation from all over the country.

Article translated from https://www.huffingtonpost.jp/entry/story_jp_5e8d6591c5b62459a9310364