Emergency Cash Benefit to Help with the Rising Costs of Electricity, Gas, and Food

About the emergency cash benefit to help with the rising costs of electricity, gas, and food, etc.

As a general measure to help with the cost of living, wages, and day-to-day life, the City of Hiroshima will provide 50,000 yen per household for low income households (those exempt from residents tax, etc) that are particularly impacted by the increase in financial burden due to rising costs of electricity, gas, and food, etc.

• About the emergency cash benefit to help with the rising costs of electricity, gas, and food, etc. (Cabinet Office; Japanese)＜外部リンク＞

City of Hiroshima Office for the Emergency Cash Benefit to Help with the Rising Costs of Electricity, Gas, and Food, Etc.

• Tel: 082-236-7229
  Note: please be sure to double check the number before dialing as there have been issues with people calling the wrong number.
• Reception hours: 9:00 am-5:15 pm (excluding weekends and national holidays; closed 12/29-1/3)

Cabinet Office Call Center (for inquiries regarding the emergency benefit program)

• Tel: 0120-526-145
• Reception hours: 9:00 am-8:00 pm (excluding weekends and national holidays; closed 12/29-1/3)

Amount to be provided and eligible households

The City will provide eligible households with 50,000 yen each. Eligible households are those that fulfil the criteria for (1) or (2) below.

• Note: households cannot receive this benefit multiple times.
• Application deadline: February 28, 2023 (must be postmarked by this date)

(1) All members of the household are exempt from the 2022 per capita residents tax

• Eligible households: households in which all members are exempt from the 2022 per capita residents tax as of the reference date (September 30, 2022).

How to apply:

(a) Households exempt from per capita residents tax known to the City of Hiroshima

The City of Hiroshima will mail you your application documents. Please fill them out and return them via the stamped and addressed return envelope included in the packet. Documents were mailed on November 2, 2022.

(b) Households exempt from per capita residents tax unknown to the City of Hiroshima for reasons such as moving to Hiroshima City on or after January 2, 2022

In order to receive the benefit, you must apply.

Please print the application form (located below), fill in the necessary information, and send them along with additional necessary documents to the City of Hiroshima Office for the Emergency Cash Benefit to Help with the Rising Costs of Electricity, Gas, and Food, Etc.

(2) Households whose income for one month during the period of January to December 2022 has decreased to the amount equivalent of being exempt from per capita residents tax (households in acute need)

• Eligible households: households whose income has decreased due to unforeseen circumstances.

You can apply for the benefit if your projected yearly income (one month of your choosing during the period of January to December 2022×12) is the same or below the equivalent threshold amount of being exempt from per capita residents tax.

For information on the equivalent threshold amount for exemption, please see the following table.

Equivalent Threshold Amount for Per Capita Residents Tax Exemption
Example of family composition	Income (yen)	Net Income (yen)
Single person households or households without dependents	1,000,000	450,000
Households with dependents (1 person)	1,560,000	1,010,000
Households with dependents (2 people)	2,057,000	1,360,000
Households with dependents (3 people)	2,557,000	1,710,000
Households with dependents (4 people)	3,057,000	2,060,000
Those with disabilities, minors, widows, and single-parent households	2,043,999	1,350,000

Note: You must apply to receive the benefit.

Please print the application form (located below), fill in the necessary information, and send them along with additional necessary documents to the City of Hiroshima Office for the Emergency Cash Benefit to Help with the Rising Costs of Electricity, Gas, and Food, Etc.

Where to send your application:

City of Hiroshima Office for the Emergency Cash Benefit to Help
with the Rising Costs of Electricity, Gas, and Food, Etc.
Health and Welfare Planning Division, Health and Welfare Bureau, City of Hiroshima
Hiroshima Central Post Office PO Box 100
730-8712

Important notes when applying for the benefit

• Even if your household falls under (1) or (2) above, you will be ineligible for the Benefit if all members of the household are dependents of a sustainer who is not Residents tax exempt (excluding cases in which a sustainer’s income has decreased to the level eligible for residents tax exemption).
• The Emergency Cash Benefit to Help with the Rising Costs of Electricity, Gas, and Food, Etc. (henceforth “the Benefit”) is designated as a Special State-Provided Benefit under the Law Regarding Savings Account Registration to Promptly and Reliably Implement State-Provided Benefits. As such, we will obtain and use information such as local tax information and Special Cash Payment bank account information.
• In confirming your eligibility, we may confirm government office records, etc.
• For items which cannot be confirmed via government office records, we may ask you to submit additional documents. We also may confirm necessary information regarding receiving Benefit payment from other municipalities.
• If you have received the Benefit from other municipalities, you may be asked to return the Benefit.
• Should there be an error in your application form, you may be asked to return the Benefit.
• If you have received the Benefit via fraudulent means, such as dishonesty, you may be asked to return it.
• If you intentionally submit a false application, you may face charges for fraud under false receipt of funds.

FAQ

Q: I have already received the Provisional Special Benefit for Residents Tax-Exempt Households (100,000 yen) – can I still receive this Benefit?

A: Households that received the Provisional Special Benefit for Residents Tax-Exempt Households (100,000 yen) can also receive this 50,000-yen benefit.

Q: I know that the Benefit is paid per household; however, if our resident records are separate but we live at the same address, will we be considered two households?

A: If your resident records are separate as of the reference date (September 30, 2022), you will be considered two households.

Q: I have removed someone as my dependent, so why is it they are still deemed my dependent under taxation law and why can this disqualify them for the Benefit?

A: It may be that you removed them as health insurance dependents. As health insurance dependents and tax dependents differ, please inquire at the City of Hiroshima Office for the Emergency Cash Benefit to Help with the Rising Costs of Electricity, Gas, and Food, Etc.

Q: I used to be a dependent of a former spouse who is not tax exempt. Will I be eligible for the Benefit if we are divorced?

A: If you divorced between January 1 and September 30, 2022, you will be eligible as long as you are exempt from residents taxes.

Q: If I am exempt from residents tax on per capita basis due to a tax convention, am I eligible for the Benefit?

A: You are not eligible if you are exempt from resident’s tax on per capita basis due to a tax convention. You are also not eligible to be a household in acute need.

Q: Can I choose any month to be my “income for the month of your choosing” during which income for households in need decreased?

A: As long as it is any month from January to  December 2022, it does not matter which one you choose.

For those in protective living situations due to domestic abuse

There are cases in which those living outside of their legal domicile due to domestic abuse can receive the Benefit. For more information, please inquire at the City of Hiroshima Office for the Emergency Cash Benefit to Help with the Rising Costs of Electricity, Gas, and Food, Etc.

Be aware of scams

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

• Municipalities and the national government will NEVER ask you to go to an ATM to receive the Emergency Cash Benefit to Help with the Rising Costs of Electricity, Gas, and Food, Etc.
• Municipalities and the national government will NEVER ask you to transfer handling fees for the Emergency Cash Benefit to Help with the Rising Costs of Electricity, Gas, and Food, Etc.
• If you receive any suspicious phone calls, be sure to consult with your family, friends, or the police to avoid falling victim to a scam.

Application Forms (Japanese)

• For households in acute need: Application form for the Emergency Cash Benefit to Help with the Rising Costs of Electricity, Gas, and Food, Etc.
• For households in acute need: Example application form for the Emergency Cash Benefit to Help with the Rising Costs of Electricity, Gas, and Food, Etc.
• For households in acute need: Simple Expected Income Statement Form
• For households in acute need: Example form for the Simple Expected Income Statement Form
• Application form for the Emergency Cash Benefit to Help with the Rising Costs of Electricity, Gas, and Food, Etc.
• Example application form for the Emergency Cash Benefit to Help with the Rising Costs of Electricity, Gas, and Food, Etc.