Maternity & Childcare Leave Benefit Calculator (2026)

The payments, in order

1. Childbirth lump-sum grant (shussan ikuji ichijikin): ¥500,000 per baby from your health insurance (employee insurance or National Health Insurance). It is usually paid directly to the hospital, so you pay only the difference.
2. Maternity allowance (shussan teatekin): if you are on your employer's health insurance, about two thirds of your pay for 42 days before and 56 days after the birth.
3. Childcare leave benefit (ikuji kyūgyō kyūfukin): from employment insurance, 67% of your pay for the first 6 months of leave and 50% after that, usually until the child turns 1. Either parent can take it.
4. Post-birth leave support benefit (shusshōgo kyūgyō shien kyūfukin): an extra 13% for up to 28 days when both parents take at least 14 days of leave soon after the birth.

Example: ¥300,000 a month, maternity leave, then 12 months of childcare leave: about ¥2,759,366 in total.

Why it is worth more than it looks

• These benefits are not taxed, and no social insurance is deducted from them.
• During maternity and childcare leave, your health insurance and pension premiums are waived (for you and your employer), and the waived months still count toward your pension.
• Because you have little taxable income while on leave, your resident tax the following year will be lower. See how resident tax works.

Who qualifies

• Childcare leave benefits: you were enrolled in employment insurance for at least 12 months (in months with 11+ working days) in the 2 years before the leave.
• Maternity allowance: you are enrolled in your employer's health insurance. National Health Insurance does not pay it.
• The childbirth grant: anyone enrolled in Japanese public health insurance, including dependents.

Assumptions

• Your monthly salary is used as your standard monthly remuneration and your wage at the start of leave. Limits from August 1, 2026 apply.
• One month of childcare leave is counted as 30 days. The baby is born on the due date.