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Social Welfare Service for persons with disability ・Japan
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Various Application Procedures Last updated:19 Feb 2024
»The procedures of accessing to disability welfare services in Japan
The General Application Procedures of disability welfare services in Japan
（１) Consultation（相談）
Please consult with the Welfare Division (障害福祉課) of the Ward Office / Branch Office (市区町村役所) or Health Center (保健所) for the details of disability welfare services.
（２）Submitting the
Application（申請）
Please submit the application to the Welfare Division of the Ward Office / Branch Office if the type of disability service would like to use has been decided.
（３）Recogniting the Classification
of Needed Support for disabled
persons (障害支援区分の認定）
A home visit will then be conducted by the specified investigators for accessing the physical and mental conditions of the applicant. Then the Classification of Needed Support for disabled persons *1. (障害支援区分の認定) will be proceeded which is determined by the result of the accessment and the doctor's report.
（5）Grant Decision (支給決定）
The Grant Decision (grant for the welfare service) will be made by the government, based on several items (including the Classification of Needed Support for disabled persons, the Service Utilization Programs and etc.) The Claimant Certifications (受給者証) will then be issued to the service user with the upper limit of user's burden fee paying for the welfare service. *2.
The completed Service Utilization Programs for the disability welfare service will be submitted to the Welfare Disvision of the Ward Office or health Center.
The Plan of Service Utilization Programs for the disability welfare service which clearly stated the goals and expectation of the service user will have to be created by the Designation of Consultation Support Business Operators (特定相談支援事業所). It may also be conducted by the service user himself.
The Service Utilization Programs (サービス等利用計画) will be conducted according to the detail of the Grant Decision.
（6）Contracting with the Disability
Service Provider (サービス提供事業者との契約)
The use of chosed welfare service witll be started after contracting with the service provider / facility.
Start using of the welfare service
（7）Monitoring (モニタリング)
Monitoring (review of the use of welfare service) will be conducted after using the service for a designated period.
Remarks:
*1. The Classification of Needed Support for disabled persons (障害支援区分) must have to be conducted for anyone who would like to apply for the welfare service with nursing care benefits (介護給付の福祉サービス).
Not applicable (非該当): The nursing care benefits for the welfare service is not applicable to the service user
Category 1 - Category 6 (区分１～区分６): The higher the number, the higher the need for nursing care benefits for disablilty welfare services
*2. Basically, the service user's burden of the disability welfare service fee (except the meal and utility costs) will be bounded to 10% of the total cost. However, the upper limit of the monthly burden may be varied to the family's income.
Are the foreign residents in Japan eligible to apply for the disability welfare service?
Basically, it is the human right for every people to access and receive the welfare services when in need, no matter what age, sex, race and religion you are in Japan. In the other word, anyone holding an eligible residential visa (except those who are holding the Short-Term Stay visa <短期滞在> or staying in Japan illegally <不法滞在>), are able to apply for the disability welfare service in Japan when in need.
How to apply for the Certificate for Persons with Disabilities (障害者手帳）
Application Procedure of the Physically Disability Certification (身体障害者手帳)
Required documents:
Application flow in general：
1．Applicant (or his guardians）has to approach the Welfare Division of the Ward / Branch Office for obtaining a blank medical certificate form (指定医師診断書).
2. This medical certifcate must be filled by the desinated doctors.
3. Then submit the filled medical cerifcate and all the required documents (as shown on the right colume) to the Welfare Division of the Ward / Branch Office.
4. The Physically Disability Certification wil be issued after examinating the rating of disability.
Application form
ID photo
Medical certificate form from the designated doctor (issued within 1 year)
Personal seal
Identity documents
（eg. My Number card, driving license or passport)
Classification of the disability level: 6 gradings
Processing times: At least 1 month after the submission
Renewal: No need to renew the certificate*
Application can also be submitted on behalf of the family members or related parties. For details, please approach the Ward / Branch Office.
* It may have to re-apply for the certificate if the degree or the type of disabilities have been varied.
Application Procedure of the Medical Rehabilitaion Handbook (療育手帳）
Required documents:
Application flow in general:
1．Applicant (or his guardians) has to submit the application and make an appointment for the assessment of intellectual disability level at the Welfare Disvision of the Ward / Branch Office*.
*Under age 18: Child Consultation Center (児童相談所)
*Above age 18: Welfare Center for Persons with Disabilities (障害者福祉センター) or Rehabilitation Center for Persons with Intellectual Disabilities (知的障害者更生相談所)（The titles of the centers may be varied in different local government）
2. The level of intellectual disability of the applicant will then be assessed by the designated Counselor or doctor during a face-to-face interview. The Child Consultation Center or the Welfare Center for Persons with Disabilities will then determine the classification of disability level, with reference of the result of the assessment report.
3. After the judement, the applicant will be able to receive the handbook from the Welfare Division of the Ward / Branch Office.
Application form
ID photo
Personal seal
Classification of the disability level: Gradings are varied in each local government（The national classification is Severe （Ａ）and other （Ｂ））
Renewal: Re-judgement has to carry out after a number of year (The period of renewal varies with different local government）
Processing times：At least 1 month after the submission
Application can also be submitted on behalf of the family members or related parties. For details, please approach the Ward / Branch Office.
Application Procedure of the Mental Disability Certificate (精神障害者保険福祉手帳)
Required documents:
Application flow in general:
＊The application will be eligible after 6 months since the first medical examination of mental disorder＊
1．Applicant (or his guardians) has to submit the application at the Welfare Division of the Ward /Branch Office.
2. The application form and othe required documents has to submitted to the office for further processing。
3. The grade of mental disability level will be determined after the assessment and the Certificate will then be issued to the applicant.
Application form
Medical certificate* or the copy of Disability Pension
Personal seal
Identity documents
（eg. My Number card, driving license or passport)
Classification of the disability level: 1-3 gradings
* The medical certificate must have to be issued by the designated doctor within 3 months.
Processing times：1 - 4 months after the submission
Renewal: Re-judgement for every 2-year
Application can also be submitted on behalf of the family members or related parties. For details, please approach the Ward / Branch Office.
ID photo
※ For more details, please contact the local Ward / Branch Office.
How to obstain the Help Mark (ヘルプマーク）
The target groups of the Help Mark（including people using prosthetic legs or artificial joints, those with internal or intractable diseases, mental disorders, intellectual disabilities, or those in early pregnancy）、or their family / caregivers are eligbled to obstain the Help Mark. The Help Mark is distributed in the designated areas in Japan stated as below.
＊ It is unnecessary to present the Handbooks for persons with disabilities or
the medical certificate when applying for the Help Mark. (However, some local
governments may require the applicants to submit some documents. Please
check the details with the local governments.)
ONE Help Mark for each applicant
Free of charge
Resale of the Help Mark is not allowed
Please use appropriately
The distribuion areas of the Help Mark in Tokyo:
-
Toei Subway Stations (Oedo Line, Asakusa Line, Shinjuku Line, Mita Line)
-
Toei Bus Office
-
Tokyo Sakura Tram (Toden Arakawa Line) Office
-
Nippori-Toneri Liner Station Office
-
Yurikamome station office
-
Tama Intercity Monorail Station Office
-
Tokyo Metropolitan Rehabilitation Center for Persons with Disabilities
-
Tokyo Metropolitan Hospital
Prefectures where the Help Mark has been introduced (other than Tokyo):
Kyoto Prefecture, Wakayama Prefecture, Tokushima Prefecture, Aomori Prefecture, Nara Prefecture, , Shiga Prefecture, Osaka Prefecture, Gifu Prefecture, Tochigi Prefecture, Kanagawa Prefecture,Hiroshima Prefecture, Hokkaido, Akita Prefecture, Ehime Prefecture,Shimane Prefecture, Hyogo Prefecture, Tottori Prefecture, Shizuoka Prefecture, Yamanashi Prefecture, Mie Prefecture, Kagawa Prefecture, Nagasaki Prefecture, Miyazaki Prefecture, Saga Prefecture, Toyama Prefecture, Nagano Prefecture, Kochi Prefecture, Aichi Prefecture, Saitama prefecture, Iwate prefecture, Yamagata prefecture, Okinawa prefecture, Fukushima prefecture, Miyagi prefecture, Yamaguchi prefecture, Ishikawa Prefecture, Ibaraki Prefecture, Niigata Prefecture (Total 38 prefectures)
Akmost all of the Help Mark are distributed in the Disability Welfare Division, Public Health Center, General Support Center for persons with disabilities of each Prefecture. For details, please inquire at the Welfare Division of the local Ward Office of your residential region.
More details about the distribution offices in Japan:
全国のヘルプマークの普及状況（各自治体の配布窓口を含む）・東京都福祉保健局「ヘルプマーク（企業・事業者向け）webサイト」
The spread of help marks in Japan (including the distribution offices of local governments), Tokyo Metropolitan Health and Welfare Bureau “the Website of the Help Mark (for companies and businesses) "
Should you have any questions, please feel free to contact us
