[Application Period Closed] Information Regarding the Special Fixed-Sum Government Cash Benefit (as of 6/2/2020)

On April 20, COVID-19 Emergency Economic Relief Measures were decided on by the Cabinet, and the decision was made to implement a special cash benefit in order to quickly and effectively support households using a simple system, while still focusing our efforts on stopping the spread of COVID-19.

Special Cash Benefits＜外部リンク＞ (Japanese) (Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications)

The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) has set up a call center for questions about the benefit; if you have questions, please direct your inquiries there:

• MIC Call Center: 0120-260020
• Hours: 9 am to 6:30 pm

Please be aware that the line may be busy. If your call does not go through, try waiting before calling again.

Multilingual Support

We also offer information in Chinese, Korean, Portuguese, Spanish, Filipino, Vietnamese, and Yasashii Nihongo (simplified Japanese). For more information, please click here.

Benefit Information

1) Who is eligible?

Residents who are deemed as listed in the Basic Resident Registration System as of April 27, 2020.

Note: if you were formerly living in Japan under a Student visa, Technical Intern Training visa, Designated Activities visa, etc, and were unable to return to your home country due to COVID-19 after the end of your visa period: if you are not registered in the Basic Resident Registration System as of 4/27 and are currently living in Japan under the Temporary Visitor (90 days) visa or Designated Activities (3 months) visa, it may be possible to change your visa to a Designated Activities (6 months) visa and register in the Basic Resident Registration System to apply to receive your benefit. Please inquire at the Hiroshima Regional Immigration Bureau (082-221-4468) directly for more information regarding changing your visa status.

2) Who will receive the benefit?

The head of household for those eligible to receive benefits. For example, if there are three people in your household, the head of household applies for the benefit and will receive three payments (one for each member).

3) Benefit amount

Eligible residents will receive 100,000 yen each.

4) Application process, application deadline, and benefit date

To prevent the spread of COVID-19, the application process will primarily be conducted in the following two ways:

• Application by Post
• Online Application

We ask for your cooperation and understanding in this matter.

Application by Post

We will begin sending out application forms on May 29.

Note: it may take some time to arrive at your home as this is a mass mailing.

Send in your completed application form, including bank account number, etc, along with copies of your bank account information (bank book, ATM card, copy of your internet banking screen, etc) and ID (driver’s license, Individual Number (My Number) Card, health insurance card, Residence Card, Special Permanent Residence Certificate, etc) to the City of Hiroshima in the provided reply envelope.

We will then transfer funds to those who have correctly filled in their applications and provided the correct copies of verification paperwork beginning June 12 (tentative).

Note: after you submit your application and paperwork, it will take some time to verify that everything is correct. We will do what we can to ensure that everyone receives their funds as quickly as possible, so we ask for your patience and understanding.

Application Guide

So you’ve received your application in the mail and now you’re ready to apply. First, let’s go over the contents of the application envelope:

Application Form (Side A)

This form will be entirely in Japanese. Below we’ve provided an English translation of the form; HOWEVER, you CANNOT submit the English version of the form. ONLY the Japanese version of this form is valid; the English is merely for your reference.

• Application Form (English; for reference ONLY)  PDF

Here are a few things to note when filling out the form:

1. The benefit CANNOT be transferred to bank accounts abroad. If you do not have a Japanese bank account, there is a box at the bottom for you to tick (the City of Hiroshima will reach out to you individually).
2. In the Applicant Signature section, if someone else is writing for the applicant, they must print the applicant’s name and stamp the applicant’s inkan seal in the space provided. If you (the applicant) are filling out the application for yourself, just a signature (and no inkan seal) is fine.
3. The telephone number you provide MUST be a Japanese telephone number (mobile phone numbers are also acceptable).
4. If you make a mistake when filling out your information, cross it out once and write above or below it (no need to stamp it with your inkan).

Proxy Recipient Form + Necessary Documents for the Application Process
(Side B on the back of the Application Form)

This is only to be filled out if you are applying via proxy (meaning someone else will be applying/claiming/receiving your benefit on your behalf). If you’re not applying via proxy, leave it blank. We have also provided an English translation of the Proxy Recipient form for your reference. Again, ONLY the Japanese version of this form is valid; the English is merely for your reference.

• Proxy Recipient Form (English; for reference ONLY) PDF

Here are a few things to note when filling out the Proxy Application form:

1. The telephone number for your proxy MUST be a Japanese telephone number (mobile phone numbers are also acceptable).
2. In the Applicant Name section, the applicant (not the proxy) must sign (no inkan seal necessary). If someone else is writing for the applicant, they must print the applicant’s name and stamp the applicant’s inkan seal in the space provided.

Announcement Regarding the Special Fixed-Sum Government Cash Benefit

This will also be entirely in Japanese. We have provided an English translation of the announcement for your reference below. Please read it carefully, as it contains valuable information such as the date for the end of the application period, terms and conditions, and examples of forms of ID and bank information.

• Announcement Regarding the Special Fixed-Sum Government Cash Benefit (English) PDF

Be Wary of Scammers!

On the back of the Announcement Regarding the Special Fixed-Sum Government Cash Benefit is a notice about scams related to the benefit. This will also be entirely in Japanese. We have provided an English translation of the announcement for your reference below. Please read it carefully and if anyone suspicious tries to contact you, immediately contact the telephone numbers provided on the notice.

• Be Wary of Scammers! (English) PDF

Consultation Hotlines for International Residents

This contains the contact information for two consultation hotlines available in a variety of foreign languages: the Hiroshima City Consultation Service for Foreign Residents and the Hiroshima Multilingual Living Support for Foreigners. Please contact them if you have any questions regarding the application process.

Return Envelope

Use this pre-paid envelope to send your completed application form and copies of ID and bank information to the City of Hiroshima.

---

Now that we’ve gone over the contents, the next step is to fill out your application form. Using a black ballpoint pen, fill out the form neatly and correctly. You will also need to make a copy of your ID and bank information.

Some examples of valid ID are:

• Driver’s license
• Individual Number (My Number) Card (hard plastic card with photo)
• Health insurance card
• Passport (if your name and date of birth are written on your passport using the standard Roman alphabet, a Japanese translation of your passport is not necessary; however, for names/dates of birth in any other written alphabet (such as Hangul, Chinese, Sanskrit, Russian, etc), you must include a Japanese translation)
• Residence Card
• Special Permanent Residence Certificate

Some examples of bank information are:

• ATM bank card
• Bank book
• Copy of your internet banking screen

Now that you have your copies of your ID and bank information and your completed application form, it’s time to send everything in. Fold your documents neatly and place them inside the provided return envelope. Seal the envelope and then post it in your local post box or at your local post office by August 28 (Fri).

Online Application (for those with Individual Number (My Number) Cards)

Those with the hard plastic My Number Card can take advantage of our online application process beginning May 13. Simply log on to the MynaPortal website (a portal site with information about the My Number system and where you can make electronic applications), enter your bank account information, and upload copies of your bank account information to apply (ID verification documents are not necessary as your identity is already confirmed via electronic signature).

Funds will be transferred beginning May 22.

Please note the following when applying online:

• To apply online, you will need the hard plastic My Number Card complete with electronic signature certificate (*1).
• For those who (a) do not have the signing function, (b) period of validity has expired, or (c) have entered the wrong password 5 times or more and been locked out of their account, you must go to the Citizens Affairs desk of your local ward office to complete the appropriate procedures. As our Citizens Affairs Division counters are currently crowded, we ask that you instead use the postal application method.
• To those who want to trade in their My Number Notification Card (paper) for the hard plastic My Number Card: be aware that the process takes over two months from application to receipt; your application will be processed faster if you use the postal application method.

*1) Note: electronic signature certificates lose their validity if your address or name has changed. For those whose address/name has changed, you will have to go the Citizen’s Affairs Division of your local ward office/branch office to have them re-issue your electronic signature certificate.

• Be aware that you will be allowed to apply online for the special cash benefit the day AFTER your electronic signature certificate has been issued for the first time, re-issued, or the period of validity has been updated.

You can apply online from the following sites:

MynaPortal

• How to Apply Online＜外部リンク＞ (Japanese)
• Application Page ＜外部リンク＞(Japanese)

How to Apply (Video Version) from the Cabinet Office Official YouTube

• Application via Smartphone＜外部リンク＞ (Japanese)
• Application via PC＜外部リンク＞ (Japanese)

How to Apply (PDF Version) from the Cabinet Office

• Application via Smartphone (Japanese)
• Application via PC (Japanese)

Apply for your Special Fixed-Sum Government Cash Benefit Online! (Japanese)

For questions about the online application process, please consult the following:

Individual Number Hotline (Japanese Telephone Service)

For questions about how to use MynaPortal (Pittari Service) (excluding information about the service system and paperwork contents).

• Tel: 0120-95-0178
• Hours: 9:30 am to 6:30 pm (excluding New Years holidays)

Following the recorded guidance, press 4 (for inquiries about MynaPortal) and then 1 (for Pittari Service or one-stop service for establishing corporations).

Application Deadline

The application deadline for both the postal and online applications is August 28, 2020.

• Postal applications must be postmarked by August 28, 2020.
• Online applications must be submitted by 12:00 am of August 28, 2020.

Payment method

As a general rule, benefits will be transferred into the applicant (head of household)’s bank account.

Questions?

Please our English FAQ below:

• FAQ Guide (PDF)

How to change where your application is sent

All application forms will be sent to the address for the head of household; however, for those living away from their registered address for reasons such as hospitalization or living in care facilities, it is possible to change the address where the application will be sent. (Depending on the timing of submission, the application may be sent to the address listed on your Resident Record; we kindly ask for your understanding in these cases.)

Please mail the following forms to:

Special Fixed-Sum Government Cash Benefit Office
Hiroshima City Hall
1-6-34 Kokutaiji-machi
Naka-ku, Hiroshima City
730-8586

• Application by the applicant (Japanese)
• Application by proxy (Japanese)
• Examples of proof of ID (Japanese)

The City of Hiroshima Special Fixed-Sum Government Cash Benefits Call Center (Japanese)

The City of Hiroshima has established a call center for questions about the special cash benefits. Please direct all questions you mau have here.

• Tel: 0120-082417 (toll-free)
• Hours: 8:30 am to 5:15 pm (excluding weekends and national holidays)

Please be aware that the line may be busy. If your call does not go through, try waiting before calling again.

For those in protective living situations (due to domestic abuse, etc)

For those who have not transferred their Resident Record to the municipality in which they currently reside by the reference date (4/27/2020): you can still receive your subsidy if you fulfill certain criteria and notify your current municipality of residence.

If you fulfill the criteria outlined in the PDF below, please notify your municipality of residence by April 30, 2020. (Applications can also be made after the end of April).

Be aware of scams

Be cautious of anyone who asks for personal information, your bank book or bank card, or your PIN!

• Municipalities/MIC will NEVER ask you to go to an ATM to receive your benefit.
• Municipalities/MIC will NEVER ask you to transfer handling fees for your benefit.
• Municipalities/MIC will NEVER call to ask for bank account information related to your benefit. Anyone who says that they will hold your ATM card for you is 100% trying to scam you.
• It is very likely that scams related to the benefit will continue to occur; if you receive any phone calls which seem suspicious in even the slightest, talk to your family, friends, or the police first before making any decisions.

Be wary of scammers! (PDF)