I have little or no income
Check welfare consultation, livelihood protection information, local independence support, and urgent hardship resources.
Welfare and benefits
Welfare, benefits, and grants in Japan
Use this guide when you are looking for official support related to living costs, rent, job loss, low income, childcare, health, disability, old age, urgent hardship, or local grants.
Official sources, reviewed by Sollo. Source corpus updated 2026-06-24.
Choose your situation
I am struggling with rent or housing
Check housing security benefit, rent support, local welfare consultation, and housing support sources.
I lost my job or income dropped
Check Hello Work, employment insurance, local welfare, health insurance reduction, pension exemption, and tax payment consultation.
I need family or childcare support
Check child-related benefits, single-parent support, childcare fees, school support, and local family services.
I need help with medical or care costs
Check health insurance reductions, high-cost medical expense information, disability support, long-term care, or municipal welfare services.
Official source map
MHLW welfare and labour sources
National welfare, employment, livelihood, health, and support-system information.
Municipal welfare office
Applications, consultation, income and household checks, local benefits, livelihood protection, and local grants.
Hello Work
Employment insurance, job seeking, vocational support, and procedures after job loss.
Health insurance and pension offices
Premium reductions, exemptions, payment consultation, and related support after income loss.
Child, disability, and elderly support offices
Specialized benefits and services depending on household, age, disability, and care needs.
What to prepare
Prepare ID, address, household members, income, assets, rent, utility costs, employment status, health or disability information if relevant, bank account, previous notices, and documents showing why your situation changed.
Official sources
This reviewed shortlist provides official starting points. Use the complete filtered directory for more sources.
Minato City food support program
Minato City
Minato City official document related to living in japan, welfare, job loss.
Open official documentSetagaya City food support information
Setagaya City
Setagaya City official document related to living in japan, welfare, job loss.
Open official documentKoto City children's cafeteria map
Koto City
Koto City official document related to living in japan, welfare, job loss.
Open official documentGrants Guide For Job Loss - Syokugyou Kunren - English
Children and Families Agency (CFA)
Children and Families Agency (CFA) official document related to grants, living in japan, job loss.
Open official documentMinato City children's cafeteria information
Minato City
Minato City official document related to living in japan, welfare, job loss.
Open official documentKoto City children's cafeteria map (PDF)
Koto City
Koto City official document related to living in japan, welfare, job loss.
Open official documentMeguro City Welfare Support Guide - English
Meguro City
Meguro City official document related to welfare, job loss, living alone.
Open official documentWelfare Support Guide
Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW)
Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) official document related to employment support, living in japan, welfare.
Open official documentCommon questions
Where should I start if I need money urgently?
Contact your local welfare office or consultation desk directly. Online guides can help you prepare, but urgent hardship should be handled with an office.
Are grants always open?
No. Some grants and subsidies have application periods, budget limits, or temporary rules. Always check the latest official page.
Can one life event trigger several benefits?
Yes. Job loss, illness, childbirth, separation, disability, or moving can affect multiple systems at once.
Why does location matter so much?
Many applications are handled by municipalities, and local governments may offer different programs, reductions, or consultation routes.
Important note
Sollo helps you find and organize official public information. It does not decide eligibility, submit applications, or replace advice from a government office or qualified adviser. Official rules can change and may depend on your location, household, income, residence status, employment, and application timing. Always confirm details with the linked official source or the relevant office before acting.
How Sollo can help
Sollo helps you search by real-life need, then connects that need to benefits, welfare offices, job-loss procedures, housing support, and related reductions.