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Guide

Schemes that reduce what you pay for care in Kawasaki

If your share of the care costs goes over a monthly ceiling, the excess is refunded. Meals and accommodation in a care facility can be reduced too. Kawasaki has several of these schemes, and most are applied for at the ward office.

None of these are automatic. Each one has to be applied for, and a refund only starts from the point you apply — so it is worth asking early rather than waiting until the bills mount up.

High-Cost Care Service Benefit

If the co-payments of everyone in the same household add up to more than a monthly ceiling, the excess is refunded once you apply and it is approved. The ceiling depends on household income.

Reduced meals and accommodation in a facility

For a stay in a care facility, or a short stay, the meal and accommodation charges can be reduced. Eligibility is judged on income and on savings and other assets.

You will be asked for:

  • The application form for the reduced-charge certificate
  • Copies of bank passbooks in the name of the applicant and their spouse, showing entries for the two months before the application
  • Documents showing your residence-tax status

Other schemes

  • Combined medical and care ceiling — medical and care co-payments are added together over the year and the excess refunded. Applied for through your health insurer, not the ward office
  • Reduction by social welfare corporations — for services provided by participating corporations
  • Reduction for home-help services
  • Reduction after a disaster or other exceptional circumstances
  • Rent assistance for group homes

Where to apply

Most of these go to the Benefits desk of the Elderly and Disability Division at your ward office; some can be filed online. If you are not sure which apply to you, a community support centre or your care manager can go through it with you. Asking is free.

Ceilings and eligibility thresholds are revised from time to time. Always check the current figures on the source page before relying on them. Counter staff answer in Japanese.

Find your support centre Official page (Japanese)

Source: Kawasaki City · Last verified 2026-09-11. Rules change. Check the source page before you act on this. This is a plain-English summary of public information, not an official translation.

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