Changes After Obtaining a Mental Disability Health and Welfare Handbook | Benefits I Actually Experienced
I hold a Mental Disability Health and Welfare Handbook.
Before applying, I had concerns such as:
"Will it really be useful?"
"Will my company or acquaintances find out?"
"I feel resistant to being labeled as having a disability."
These were my anxieties.
However, after actually obtaining it, I learned about systems that support daily life, such as employment, taxes, transportation costs, and employment insurance.
The Mental Disability Health and Welfare Handbook is a system that officially certifies that a person has a certain level of mental disability and supports their independence and social participation. There are three grades, ranging from 1 to 3.
In this article, I will introduce the changes and benefits I felt after obtaining the handbook.
I stopped blaming myself so much
Before obtaining the handbook, I sometimes thought:
"I have to try harder."
"It's my fault that I can't work like healthy people."
These were my thoughts.
Obtaining the handbook does not mean the illness is cured.
Even so, having it officially recognized that I need support in my daily life and work changed my way of thinking a little.
I have come to think that it is okay to choose a way of working that suits me, rather than forcing myself to continue working in the same way as healthy people.
I can apply for jobs for people with disabilities
One of the major benefits of obtaining the handbook is being able to apply for job openings for people with disabilities.
In disability-based employment, depending on the company, you may be able to discuss the following accommodations.
Adjustments for hospital visit days
Reduction of working hours
Consideration for overtime and night shifts
Adjustment of workload
Regular interviews
Consideration for tasks you struggle with
Not all companies will necessarily provide sufficient support.
Even so, being able to discuss necessary accommodations from the start is more reassuring than hiding your illness and pushing yourself too hard.
Note that even if you obtain a handbook, you are not required to work through disability-based employment.
You can also apply for general employment.
Possibility of qualifying as a "person with difficulty finding employment" under employment insurance
People who hold a Mental Disability Health and Welfare Handbook may qualify as a "person with difficulty finding employment" for employment insurance after leaving a job.
A person with difficulty finding employment is someone judged to have more difficulty finding re-employment than general job seekers due to reasons such as a disability.
According to Hello Work guidelines, people with mental disabilities are included in the scope of those with difficulty finding employment. citeturn925865search0
However, simply holding a handbook does not automatically determine the number of benefit days.
Hello Work will confirm individually based on your separation notice, disability handbook, and treatment status.
When processing unemployment benefits, it is important to tell the staff at the counter the following:
"I have a Mental Disability Health and Welfare Handbook. Please check if I qualify as a person with difficulty finding employment for employment insurance."
If you proceed with the standard procedure without showing your handbook, you may be processed as a general job leaver.
Number of days of unemployment benefits for those having difficulty finding employment
The number of prescribed benefit days when recognized as a person having difficulty finding employment varies depending on age and the duration of employment insurance coverage.
Employment insurance coverage period of less than 1 year
Under 45 years old: 150 days
45 years old or older and under 65 years old: 150 days
Employment insurance coverage period of 1 year or more
Under 45 years old: 300 days
45 years old or older and under 65 years old: 360 days
In other words, if you are between 45 and 65 years old at the time of leaving your job, have been covered by employment insurance for at least one year, and are recognized as a person having difficulty finding employment, your prescribed benefit days could be 360 days.
However, the 360 days of benefits are not paid all at once.
They are paid for the period during which you continue your job search while receiving unemployment certification.
Also, if you are receiving injury and sickness allowance and are not yet in a condition to work, you generally cannot receive basic employment insurance benefits.
You should complete the procedures at Hello Work after your health has recovered and you are in a condition to work.
Ability to use specialized counters for people with disabilities
Hello Work has specialized counters for people with disabilities.
At these specialized counters, you can consult on the following:
Referrals for job openings for people with disabilities
Consultation on working conditions that suit you
Preparation of application documents
Accommodations during interviews
Information to convey to the workplace
Coordination with employment support agencies
Retention support after finding employment
It can be difficult to explain your illness or the accommodations you need at general service counters.
I feel that it is easier to consult about balancing treatment and work at specialized counters for people with disabilities.
You can use disability deductions for income tax and resident tax
People who have a Mental Disability Health and Welfare Handbook may be able to use disability deductions for income tax and resident tax.
For income tax, 270,000 yen can be deducted from income for general disabilities, and 400,000 yen for severe disabilities.
However, this is not a system where 270,000 yen or 400,000 yen is returned to you in cash.
It is a system where a certain amount is deducted from your income before taxes are calculated.
Company employees handle this through year-end tax adjustments, while self-employed individuals or those who did not declare it during year-end adjustments must file a tax return.
It is not applied automatically just by having the handbook, so you must file a declaration.
You may be able to receive discounts on transportation
Depending on the transportation provider, you can receive fare discounts by presenting your Mental Disability Health and Welfare Handbook.
Eligible services include the following:
JR
Private railways
Route buses
Streetcars
Some ferries
Some airlines
However, the conditions vary depending on the transportation provider.
Handbook grade
Classification of Type 1 or Type 2
Distance traveled
Whether it applies only to the individual or also to a caregiver
Whether it applies only to regular tickets
Whether the original handbook is required
It is important to check the official guidelines of each transportation provider before use.
Reduced fees for public facilities and similar locations
By presenting your handbook, admission fees may be discounted or waived depending on the facility.
For example, the following types of facilities:
Art museums
Museums
Zoos
Aquariums
Movie theaters
Sports facilities
Leisure facilities
It cannot be used at all facilities.
The applicable handbooks, grades, and treatment of caregivers vary by facility.
It is safer to check the official website before presenting your handbook at the reception desk.
NHK reception fees may be waived
In households where someone holds a Mental Disability Health and Welfare Handbook, the full NHK reception fee may be waived if all household members meet conditions such as being exempt from municipal inhabitant tax.
Simply holding the handbook does not mean you are automatically exempt.
There are conditions such as the household's tax status, and an application is also required.
Please check with your city office or NHK.
You do not need to tell everyone that you have a handbook
When you obtain a handbook,
some people may worry,
"Will my company or those around me find out?"
However, obtaining a handbook does not mean that your company or acquaintances will be automatically notified without your consent.
You present it to the necessary parties when using services such as disability employment, tax deductions, or transportation discounts.
If you are requesting accommodations from your company, rather than explaining your diagnosis in detail, there are ways to specifically communicate the necessary support, such as:
needing to attend medical appointments
difficulty with night shifts
wanting to reduce overtime
needing adjustments to workload
and so on.
The handbook has an expiration date
The expiration date for the Mental Disability Health and Welfare Handbook is two years.
If you wish to continue using it, you must complete renewal procedures.
It is common for local governments to accept renewal applications starting three months before the expiration date.
If you forget to renew, there may be a period where you cannot use services such as disability employment, tax deductions, or public transportation discounts.
It is a good idea to register the renewal date in your smartphone calendar for peace of mind.
Obtaining it does not mean everything automatically becomes cheaper
Obtaining the handbook does not mean all benefits are automatically applied.
Please keep the following points in mind:
Many systems require you to apply yourself
Benefits vary by local government
You may be ineligible depending on your grade or income
Discount details vary by service provider
The original handbook may be required in some cases
There is an expiration date and a renewal process
Those with difficulty finding employment need confirmation from Hello Work
Once you receive your handbook, it is helpful to ask the city office the following:
"Please provide me with a list of systems I can use with my handbook grade."
The biggest benefit I felt
The biggest benefit I felt was not just the amount of the discounts.
I have come to realize that I do not have to ignore my illness or weaknesses and force myself to keep up with healthy people.
Obtaining the handbook does not make you a different person.
It does not change your past experiences or your personal value.
I believe the Mental Disability Health and Welfare Handbook is a tool to make daily life and work a little easier to sustain.
Summary
The main benefits I felt after obtaining the Mental Disability Health and Welfare Handbook are as follows:
You can apply for jobs designated for people with disabilities
It becomes easier to discuss necessary accommodations
You can use the specialized counters for people with disabilities at Hello Work
You may qualify as a person with difficulty finding employment under employment insurance
You may be eligible for up to 360 days of unemployment benefits if you meet the conditions
You can utilize disability deductions for income tax and resident tax
You may be eligible for discounts on public transportation
Fees for public facilities and similar services may be reduced
You may be exempt from NHK receiving fees
It becomes easier to think about a work style that suits you
The systems you can use vary depending on your local municipality, the grade of your handbook, your age, income, and the duration of your employment insurance coverage.
It is important not to just stop at having the handbook, but to check with your city office, Hello Work, tax office, and other relevant institutions.
I hope my experience serves as a reference for those who are hesitant about applying for the handbook.
*This article is based on general information as of July 31, 2026. Actual systems and the number of benefit days are determined individually by local municipalities and Hello Work.