In a significant shift within Japan's disability pension system, the number of individuals deemed ineligible for government support has surged dramatically, with approximately 30,000 applicants rejected in fiscal year 2024. This figure more than doubles the number of rejections from the previous year, according to internal data from the Japan Pension Service obtained by Kyodo News on April 28, 2025.
This alarming trend marks the highest rejection rate since the organization began collecting statistics in 2019. The data reveals that roughly one in six applicants screened were found ineligible for the pension, a stark increase that suggests a tightening of standards within the system.
Despite no official changes to the criteria for determining eligibility, insiders at the Japan Pension Service attribute the uptick in rejections to a leadership change within the responsible department. The new head, noted for a stricter approach to evaluations, has seemingly influenced the overall assessment process, leading to an environment where more applications are denied.
According to the internal documents, the estimated number of new applicants for disability pensions in fiscal year 2024 ranges between 180,000 and 190,000 across both the basic and welfare categories. However, of those who have completed the screening process, approximately 30,000 were rejected on grounds that their disabilities were deemed 'lighter than the standard'—a classification that accounts for about 17% of applicants. These figures are still subject to change as final statistics are compiled.
In fiscal year 2023, the statistics reported by the Pension Service indicated that around 142,000 individuals were evaluated, with approximately 13,000, or 9%, found ineligible. This rejection rate had remained relatively stable since 2020, making the current spike particularly concerning.
The application process for disability pensions involves submitting documentation, including a medical certificate from a primary physician. Once submitted, these documents are sent to the Disability Pension Center located in Tokyo, where staff conduct preliminary reviews to check if the applications meet the necessary requirements and to assess the degree of disability, classified into levels 1 to 3 based on severity.
During the final evaluation, commissioned doctors collaborate with the staff to make determinations. However, staff members have reported that the new center director, who assumed the role in October 2023, has implemented stricter documentation requirements. This shift has led to an increase in cases where staff propose lower disability grades or even classify applicants as 'not applicable for a grade' to the judging doctors, contributing to the heightened rejection rates.
One staff member disclosed that judging doctors are often overwhelmed, lacking sufficient time—sometimes less than a minute per case—to conduct thorough reviews, which can lead to uncritical acceptance of staff recommendations. Meanwhile, the center director maintains that they have never explicitly instructed staff to tighten screening processes.
In addition to the internal data, a sample survey conducted by Kyodo News, in collaboration with social insurance labor consultants, corroborates the rising rejection rates, indicating a broader trend that raises concerns about the reliability of the disability pension system.
Disability pensions serve as a crucial financial support mechanism for individuals who, due to illness or injury, are unable to work. There are two primary types of these pensions: the basic disability pension and the welfare disability pension. The benefits for level 1 of the basic pension amount to approximately 86,000 yen per month, while level 2 recipients receive about 69,000 yen. Notably, no benefits are awarded for those classified at level 3.
In the fiscal year 2023, there were roughly 2.42 million recipients of disability pensions, with the total annual disbursement amounting to approximately 2.3 trillion yen. This highlights the critical role these pensions play in supporting a significant portion of Japan's population.
As the rejection rates climb and scrutiny increases, many advocates and stakeholders are calling for a review of the evaluation processes and criteria to ensure that those in genuine need are not unjustly denied support. The implications of this trend are profound, not only for the individuals affected but also for the integrity of the social safety net in Japan.
The growing number of ineligible applicants raises questions about the balance between necessary oversight and the ethical obligation to provide support for those who meet the criteria. With the system's reliability hanging in the balance, it is imperative for policymakers and public officials to address these concerns and restore trust in the disability pension framework.
