Useful Informatmion of Administrative & specialized procedures in Japan

For about 15 years now, we have been providing support services to residents living abroad (outside Japan) and to people returning permanently to Japan. Regarding the number of returnees from the United States, which has been increasing year by year, it seems that the number of people who have not yet started receiving U.S. Social Security benefits — that is, those who are about to file a claim — is gradually rising. The main reasons for this include following points.

① The Full Retirement Age (FRA) for receiving full Social Security benefits is rising year by year.
② Driven by the weak yen, more people are retiring in their early 60s—before reaching FRA—and considering a second chapter of their lives in Japan or split between Japan and the U.S.

Even after returning to Japan, you can file a claim for SOCIAL SECURITY at any Japan Pension Service office nationwide under the Japan-U.S. Social Security Agreement.

Starting in 2025, the number of documents required to apply for Social Security benefits has increased, and more detailed information about the applicant is now required. After the current U.S. president took office, issues regarding the actual payment of benefits to recipients (such as payments to fictitious recipients) came to light; it is believed that the application process has become stricter against this backdrop. In this article, we will introduce this latest information.

Latest Information on How to File a Claim

As mentioned earlier, you can complete the procedures at any Pension Office throughout Japan. Unlike at Social Security offices in the United States, staff at these offices can assist you in Japanese, which is very convenient.  The list below shows the required documents for each type of pension. Previously, the process was straightforward, requiring only the “① Application for U.S. Pension Benefits” form, which was available in both English and Japanese.  However, starting in 2025, two new forms (② and ③ in the list below) have been added, available only in English.