First Review Meeting on National Pension Category 3
Overview
At the inaugural meeting held on September 4, 2026, the secretariat explained the history and current status of the Category 3 insured-person system and plans for a fact-finding survey. Members discussed employment adjustments, pension finances, consideration for childcare and caregiving, and the relationship with health insurance, and offered views on survey questions and how to proceed. The secretariat said it would compile the survey results and organize the issues during FY2026, with deliberations continuing in FY2027.
Key points
- The meeting discussed review issues in light of the system's original purpose and current social and employment conditions.
- Plans were presented for a fact-finding survey using a questionnaire and interviews with people directly affected.
- The secretariat explained that it would organize the issues during FY2026 and continue deliberations in FY2027.
Overview
The inaugural meeting was held on September 4, 2026, and the secretariat explained the system's current status and plans for a fact-finding survey. The system was established by the 1985 amendment to provide pension rights in their own names to dependent spouses of employees enrolled in employees' pension insurance, who at the time could join voluntarily.
In view of rising female employment and greater diversity in household structures and work styles, participants recognized the need to understand actual conditions and carefully consider the issues in order to move toward a public pension system that is neutral with respect to work styles. Members expressed differing views, including calls for review that could eventually abolish the system, for cautious deliberation, and for consideration of care responsibilities.
Impact
Members noted that employment adjustments made with dependent-status thresholds in mind distort labor supply and contribute to low wages in the part-time labor market. They also said that system reviews should account for people unable to work because of childcare or caregiving, as well as the effects on pension finances.
Details
According to the secretariat, Category 3 insured persons must be at least 20 and under 60 years old and meet requirements including being the spouse of a Category 2 insured person. Eligibility criteria include annual income under 1.3 million yen. Periods in Category 3 count as periods with premiums paid for the basic pension, and the insured person pays no premiums personally.
The fact-finding survey will consist of a web questionnaire for people aged 20 to 59 with annual income of 2.6 million yen or less, excluding students, and online in-depth interviews. The questionnaire is planned to cover 5,000 Category 1, 5,000 Category 2, and 9,000 Category 3 insured persons; the 1,000 people who moved from Category 3 to Category 2 will be included within the Category 2 total. Interviews will last about 60 minutes per person and ask about views of the system, employment, childcare, and caregiving.
Members proposed reflecting spouses' preferences, family allowances at workplaces, and regional differences in the survey; covering work arrangements such as freelancing; and subdividing age groups for children. The secretariat said it would consider the questions and analysis methods. During FY2026, it plans to review past discussions and report the survey results, then organize the issues and continue deliberations in FY2027.