18 Types of Disability Welfare Services: How to Choose Without Failure and How to Use Them Without a Disability Certificate
For individuals with disabilities and their families, "disability welfare services" are an essential system that supports daily life and employment.Disability welfare services are public services based on the Comprehensive Support for Persons with Disabilities Act that support the daily lives and employment of people with disabilities.There are 18 types in total, combining nursing care benefits and training benefits, covering a wide range of needs from daily care to employment training.
However, many people are unsure which to choose due to the large number of options, or feel anxious because they do not understand the costs or application procedures. There is also a common misconception that you cannot use these services without a disability certificate.
In this article, we will explain in detail from the perspective of an active support worker the types of disability welfare services, how to choose them, cases where they can be used without a certificate, costs, and the application process.
Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare: "About Disability Welfare Services"
What are disability welfare services? Two types of benefits and 18 types of services
Disability welfare services are a public system based on the Comprehensive Support for Persons with Disabilities Act that provides necessary support for people with disabilities to lead daily and social lives.
Services are broadly classified into two categories:
Nursing care benefits: For those who need nursing care or support in daily life (9 types)
Training benefits: For those who wish to receive training aimed at independence or employment (9 types)
There are 18 types of services in total, and the local government decides on the provision based on the user's disability status, living situation, and desired support.
Main nursing care benefit services:
Home care (home help)
Severe disability home care
Daily life care
Short-term stay (short stay)
Facility support, etc.
Main training benefit services:
Independence training (functional training/daily life training)
Employment transition support
Employment continuation support Type A and Type B
Community living assistance (group homes), etc.
There are cases where these services can be used even without a disability certificate, which we will explain in detail later.
Who is eligible for disability welfare services? Cases where you can use them without a certificate
Those eligible for disability welfare services are individuals who fall into the following four categories:
People with physical disabilities (those eligible for a Physical Disability Certificate)
People with intellectual disabilities (those eligible for a Rehabilitation Certificate)
People with mental disabilities (those eligible for a Mental Disability Health and Welfare Certificate)
Patients with intractable diseases (those with intractable diseases designated by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare)
Can I use them without a certificate?
In conclusion, you can use the services even without a disability certificate.What is required for use is a "Disability Welfare Service Recipient Certificate," which is different from a disability certificate.
Conditions for use without a certificate:
Having a medical certificate (opinion letter) from a doctor
The local government recognizing the necessity of providing the service
In the case of mental disabilities, having a recipient certificate for medical care for self-reliance support (outpatient mental medical care) makes the application process smoother
In fact, many people who do not have a disability certificate due to conditions like depression or developmental disabilities obtain a "Recipient Certificate" based on a doctor's medical certificate and use services such as employment transition support.
Note: Since judgment criteria may vary by local government, we recommend first consulting with the disability welfare department of your municipality or a consultation support office.
What are the costs for disability welfare services? Conditions for zero-cost and reduction systems
The usage fee for disability welfare services is, in principle, 10% of the service cost. However, a "monthly upper limit for burden" is set based on household income, and any amount exceeding this limit does not need to be paid out-of-pocket.
Categories for monthly upper limit of burden
Criteria for 0 yen:
Households receiving public assistance
Households with an annual income of approximately 3 million yen or less (for a 3-person household receiving Grade 1 Disability Basic Pension)
Reduction system:
There are also reduction measures for actual expenses such as food and utility costs for low-income households.
When using multiple disability welfare services, "upper limit management" is performed so that the self-pay amounts are not added together.
Specific example: If a single person who is exempt from municipal inhabitant tax uses Type B Employment Continuation Support, the usage fee is 0 yen. However, lunch costs (actual expenses) are required separately.
From Application to Start of Use for Disability Welfare Services | Explained in 3 Steps
To use disability welfare services, you must apply to your local government. The flow is explained in the following 3 steps.
Step 1: Consultation and Application
What to do:
Consult with the disability welfare department of your municipality
Communicate the services you wish to use and confirm the necessary documents
Submit the application form
Necessary documents (general items):
Disability certificate (if you have one)
Doctor's medical certificate (required if you do not have a certificate)
My Number Card
Personal seal (hanko)
Identification document
Required time: 1 day (can be applied for on the same day if documents are ready)
Step 2: Certification Survey and Creation of Service Use Plan
To-do:
Certification survey by municipal staff (interview format)
Create a "Service Use Plan Draft" at a consultation support office (free of charge)
What is a certification survey?: This is a survey to determine the "Disability Support Classification" (from non-applicable to Classification 6) by interviewing you about your disability status and living conditions. It is mandatory when using nursing care benefits, but may not be required for training benefits.
Required time: 2 to 4 weeks
Step 3: Decision on Provision and Start of Use
To-do:
Receive a "Recipient Certificate" from the municipality
Sign a contract with the service provider you wish to use
Start using the service
Required time: Usually 1 to 2 months from application to start of use
Point: We recommend applying with plenty of time, as the period may vary depending on the application timing (such as the end of the fiscal year) and the municipality.
How to Choose Disability Welfare Services Without Failure: 3 Checkpoints
With 18 types of services available, many people may be unsure which one to choose. Here, we introduce 3 checkpoints to ensure you don't make a mistake.
Checkpoint 1: Clarify your purpose
Question:
"Do you need daily care?" → Nursing care benefits
"Do you want to aim for employment?" → Training benefits
Specific examples:
Need physical care → In-home care / Daily life care
Aiming for general employment → Employment transition support
Want to work at your own pace → Employment continuation support (Type B)
Checkpoint 2: Understand your disability status
Disability support classification: When using nursing care benefits, the services you can use are limited by your disability support classification (Non-applicable to Level 6).
Example:
In-home care → Level 1 or higher
Severe disability home care → Level 4 or higher
Training benefits are relatively easy to use because there are no restrictions based on disability support classification.
Checkpoint 3: Utilize consultation support offices
What is a consultation support office: It is a specialized agency that provides free consultations regarding the use of disability welfare services and creates service utilization plans.
Benefits of utilization:
They will suggest services that suit you
Provides support for the application process
Provides regular monitoring even after service usage begins
How to find: You can get a referral at your local municipal disability welfare office.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q1: Can I use disability welfare services even if I do not have a disability certificate?
A: Yes, it is possible. If you have a medical certificate from a doctor and the local government recognizes the necessity, you can obtain a "Recipient Certificate."
Q2: What are the conditions for the cost to be zero?
A: If you are in a household receiving public assistance or a household exempt from municipal inhabitant tax, the service usage fee is zero. However, actual expenses such as food costs are required separately.
Q3: How many days does it take from application to the start of service?
A: It usually takes 1 to 2 months. Since this varies depending on the time of application and the local government, please apply with plenty of time.
Q4: What should I do if I don't know which service is right for me?
A: It is recommended to consult with a consultation support office. A specialized consultation support professional will listen to your situation and wishes and propose the most suitable service for you.
Q5: Can I use multiple services at the same time?
A: Yes, it is possible. For example, you can combine multiple services, such as "Daily Life Care" and "Short-term Stay." However, since the upper limit of your out-of-pocket expenses is managed, adjustments will be made to ensure that your burden does not become excessive.
Summary: Achieve a Secure Life and Employment with Disability Welfare Services
Disability welfare services are an important system for people with disabilities to live their daily lives and work with peace of mind.
Key points of this article:
There are 18 types of disability welfare services, divided into nursing care benefits and training benefits.
You can use them even without a disability certificate if you have a doctor's medical certificate.
Costs range from 0 to 37,200 yen per month depending on household income (with an upper limit).
It usually takes 1 to 2 months from application to the start of service.
Next action: First, consult with the disability welfare department of your local municipality or a consultation support office to find the service that suits you. By utilizing disability welfare services, you can achieve a more secure life and employment.
Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare "About Disability Welfare Services"