Moms and dads are filled with joy at having a long-awaited baby. However, at the same time, many people feel anxious when they think about the costs of raising a child. The costs of raising a child are diverse, including not only the cost of school, but also food, clothing, nursery school fees, and leisure expenses.

You envision a future with your children, but you feel like you don't have enough money to raise them... If you're one of those people, we want you to know that there are various financial support programs available for childbirth and child-rearing.

This article introduces the support payments made during childbirth and child-rearing, divided into pregnancy, childbirth, and child-rearing periods.

Money you can receive during pregnancy

Now let's take a look at how much money you can receive while pregnant.

・Subsidy for prenatal checkups

Prenatal checkups are regular checkups that are given at an obstetrician-gynecologist after pregnancy is confirmed. The Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare has proposed making 14 prenatal checkups free of charge, but the type of subsidy provided varies from municipality to municipality. Be sure to check in advance what type of subsidy is available in your municipality.

・Home care costs during pregnancy

During pregnancy, there are many cases where women are forced to be hospitalized or recuperate at home due to threatened premature labor or hyperemesis gravidarum. In such cases, those who are enrolled in health insurance can receive injury and sickness benefits. In the first place, injury and sickness benefits are paid when you are forced to take time off work due to illness.

For each day you are absent from work due to some kind of illness or injury, you will be paid the amount of "the average amount of each standard monthly remuneration for the 12 months prior to the start of payment divided by 30 days x 2/3." However, please note that you will not be covered if you are enrolled in National Health Insurance.

Money given at the time of birth

The following money is available at the time of birth:

・Lump-sum childbirth and childcare allowance

If you are covered by health insurance, such as the National Health Insurance or Social Insurance, you can receive the Lump Sum Childbirth and Childcare Allowance when you give birth. This applies to both insured and dependents. If you give birth after four months or more of pregnancy, you will receive a flat rate of 420,000 yen per baby (390,000 yen if you are not covered by the Obstetric Compensation Medical System), so if you have twins, the total will be 840,000 yen.

・Maternity allowance

Maternity allowance is paid to provide financial support during maternity leave. Eligible persons are those who have worked for more than one year and have been paying into health insurance. The applicable period is the period of leave taken between the 42nd day before the date of birth and the 56th day after the day following the birth. The amount of the maternity allowance is calculated as "the person's standard daily remuneration x 2/3".

If you are paid more than the maternity lump sum during your leave, this system will not apply.

Money for raising children

The costs for childcare are as follows:

・Childcare leave benefits

Childcare leave benefits are provided to support the lives of fathers and mothers who take time off work to raise their babies. Normally, this is available until the child is 1 year and 2 months old, but if there are various circumstances, such as not being able to find a nursery school, this can be extended until the child is 2 years old. In addition, both fathers and mothers can take leave at the same time.

Eligible persons are fathers and mothers who take childcare leave and who have worked 11 days or more per month for at least 12 months in the two years prior to taking childcare leave. They must be enrolled in employment insurance.

・Medical expenses subsidy system for infants and young children

It is common for children to get sick one after another or get injured after starting nursery school. During this period, when you will be visiting hospitals more frequently, local governments have their own medical expense subsidy systems for infants and young children.

The eligible age and subsidy details vary depending on the municipality, so be sure to check the systems in place in the municipality where you live.

・Child allowance

Child allowances were established to support the expenses necessary for raising children. The amount paid varies depending on the age of the child and how many children there are, and currently it is 10,000 yen for children aged 3 or over up to junior high school age, and 15,000 yen for children under 3 years old.

Since child allowance is paid after application, it cannot be retroactive to any period before application. Make sure to apply at the same time as you submit your birth notification.

summary

There are various systems that support child-rearing expenses. Make sure you understand when and how much money you can receive. If you forget to apply, you may not receive the money you are entitled to.

Double check the amount of child-rearing expenses covered in this article to make sure you don't forget to receive it.