The unemployment benefits you can receive in Japan depend on factors such as your CTC (annual salary), employment duration, and whether your termination is classified as voluntary resignation or involuntary termination. Here’s a detailed explanation based on your annual CTC of ¥14 million and your situation:
- Unemployment Benefit Calculation
Unemployment benefits in Japan are paid as Basic Allowance (基本手当, kihon teate), which is a percentage of your average daily salary.
Step 1: Calculate Average Daily Salary
Your daily salary is based on your last 6 months of income, excluding bonuses.
With a CTC of ¥14 million:
Monthly income = ¥14,000,000 ÷ 12 = ¥1,166,667.
Last 6 months' total = ¥1,166,667 × 6 = ¥7,000,000.
Daily salary = ¥7,000,000 ÷ 180 days = ¥38,889.
Step 2: Determine Benefit Rate
The benefit rate is 50–80% of your average daily salary, depending on your income:
For higher incomes (e.g., ¥38,889/day), the benefit rate is closer to 50%.
The maximum daily benefit cap for 2024 is approximately ¥8,370/day.
Step 3: Estimated Daily Unemployment Benefit
Based on your salary, you’ll likely receive the maximum capped amount:
Daily benefit = ¥8,370.
- Duration of Benefits
The duration depends on:
- Reason for Termination:
Involuntary Termination (会社都合退職):
Short waiting period (7 days) to receive benefits.
Longer benefit period.
Voluntary Resignation (自己都合退職):
Waiting period of 3 months before benefits start.
Shorter benefit period.
- Employment Duration:
For someone under 65 years old, with involuntary termination and more than 1 year of employment:
Benefit duration = 90–330 days, depending on employment length and age.
With voluntary resignation:
Benefit duration = 90–150 days, depending on employment length.
- Estimated Total Benefits
If you were involuntarily terminated after working for more than a year:
Daily benefit = ¥8,370.
Duration = 90–330 days.
Total benefits = ¥8,370 × 90 (min) to ¥8,370 × 330 (max).
Minimum total = ¥753,300 (for 90 days).
Maximum total = ¥2,762,100 (for 330 days).
- Impact of Your 5-Year Visa
Your visa status does not directly affect the duration of unemployment benefits. However:
You must remain actively engaged in job-seeking activities to maintain eligibility.
If you cannot secure a job during the benefit period, your visa may come under review since it's tied to employment in engineering or IT-related fields.
- Recommendations
Maximize Your Benefits:
Ensure your termination is classified as "involuntary" to qualify for better benefits (short waiting period and longer duration).
Register at Hello Work promptly after receiving your separation notice (rishokuhyo).
Actively Job Hunt:
Engage in job-seeking activities and document them to continue receiving benefits.
Use platforms like LinkedIn, GaijinPot, or local job boards to find roles in your field.
Monitor Visa Compliance:
Proactively seek new employment or freelance opportunities to maintain your visa status, as prolonged unemployment may raise concerns with immigration.
Summary
Daily Benefit: Likely capped at ¥8,370/day.
Benefit Period: 90–330 days, depending on the reason for termination and your employment duration.
Total Benefits: Between ¥753,300 (90 days) and ¥2,762,100 (330 days) for involuntary termination.
Visa Validity: Not directly linked to unemployment benefits but requires active job-seeking to ensure compliance.
To maximize your unemployment benefits and protect your visa, avoid voluntary resignation, document your job search, and actively pursue new opportunities.