Hi!
I maybe need to quit my job (maybe the company won’t renew my contract) in January because I will start chemotherapy for my cancer treatment.
I already had surgery and was absent for 1 1/2 months and got health insurance benefits through my company.
I went to the Hello Work Office today to ask if I would get unemployment insurance in case the company doesn’t renew my contract and because I won’t be able to look for / start a new job for the 6 months of chemotherapy.
They couldn’t really give me any information but just told me I should come back when I am unemployed with a notice from my doctor.
Has anybody been in a similar situation that you had to quit your job or didn’t get a new contract because of sickness/treatment?
Am I eligible for benefit if I can’t start a new job in these 6 months? Or is there anything else I can do?
As far as I know I only get benefits from my social insurance through my company when I am employed so I can’t apply for that again.
Any info would help! 🙏
4 comments
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Just to clarify what is your employment type? If you’re on a fixed term contract then it’s a lot more difficult for them to not renew your contract unless they have objectively justified reasons such as downsizing etc.
So if you’re on a fixed term contract and enrolled in Shakai Hoken you should be able to pursue medical leave which means you remain employed, and just on leave of absence and you get income from the government.
However, if on the off chance you’re a directly hired ALT/JET with a board of education then you’re a “fiscal year appointed employee”. Which even though has the nature of a fixed-term contract, is not a fixed term contract. Meaning they can easily choose not to not offer you a new “appointment” (which basically means refuse to renew your contract).
Edit: also I wish you all the best with the chemotherapy 🙂
Thank you for your response! I have a one year contract and I have Shakai Hoken. My current contract ends end of January and I think if I tell them I will be absent for 6 months for the therapy they will not renew my contract. They already know about my diagnosis and they are very supportive but I can understand if 6 months of absence is too long. So not sure what to do regarding financial support then.
Thank you!! 🌷
The benefits you are receiving are sickness benefits from the health insurance association, not from the company. If you have been paying health insurance for more than a year and you continue to receive your injury and sickness benefits until the time you lose eligibility, i.e., until the time you are terminated by the company, then you will continue to receive your injury and sickness benefits after you leave the company.
If you can get a referral to a social worker, they should know this much about you, so you may want to consult with them.
Or you may want to consult with the Foreign Resident Assistance Center.
https://www.moj.go.jp/isa/support/portal/index.html