The Process of Applying for Unemployment Insurance with Bipolar Disorder

Chasse! It's Nunnu.
I've finally finished my unemployment insurance application, so I thought I'd write down the process as a memo.
I hope it's helpful.

1. Go to your local Hello Work office with the 'Separation Notice' that you receive from your company after you leave.

2. Tell the Hello Work benefits representative that you are there to apply for unemployment insurance and that you need the documents required for certification as someone having difficulty finding employment (a doctor's opinion letter) due to bipolar disorder, and receive the documents. If you have your Separation Notice, you can apply for unemployment insurance on this day, and once the application is complete, the waiting period begins from that day.
   *The waiting period is 7 days. You must not have any income during these 7 days.

3. Ask your doctor to fill out the 'Doctor's Opinion Letter' you received from Hello Work. Note that it takes a few days to fill out.

4. Take the completed doctor's opinion letter to Hello Work to have them determine your certification as someone having difficulty finding employment. If it is completed on that day, your days as someone having difficulty finding employment begin.

I was nervous until the certification as someone having difficulty finding employment was granted, but once it was, I felt a little more at ease.
People who have a disability certificate do not need a doctor's opinion letter.

The benefits of being certified as someone having difficulty finding employment are:
・The benefit restriction is lifted
*Usually, there is no pay for 1 to 3 months after the waiting period.
・Depending on your age, the benefit period becomes 300 or 360 days
・The number of job search activities required by the certification date is reduced to one
*Usually it is two
・The time for the certification date is no longer fixed
*Usually, a specific time is assigned
・Support at Hello Work is more extensive

I am very grateful for all of these benefits.
The lack of a specific time is apparently a consideration for those attending hospital appointments.
I am also very grateful that the benefit restriction was lifted and the number of benefit days was extended to 300. In my case, it would normally be 90 days, but that could lead to me rushing into the next job and quitting soon after.

Well, I think that's the flow of the unemployment insurance procedure.

My reason for leaving was illness, but the reason on the Separation Notice from my company was 'personal reasons'.
I spoke to the benefits representative about this, and it was changed to 'personal reasons due to illness'. Therefore, people who had to leave their jobs due to adjustment disorder or other mental disorders can change their reason for leaving by talking to the benefits representative.
In my case, I did not need to submit a medical certificate to the company when I left. Saved some money.

The cost of the doctor's opinion letter was 1,650 yen. Just for reference.
I think this depends on the hospital.

I hope this is helpful for those who will be going through the unemployment insurance procedure.
See ya!