Title: Act on Special Measures concerning Payment of Child Allowance for Fiscal 2012
Promulgation Date: August 30, 2011	Effective Date: October 1, 2011
Act No.: 107	Responsible Division: Child Allowance Management Office, Child-rearing Promotion Division, Equal Employment, Children and Families Bureau
1. PurposeAfter having taken into consideration the current situation with children and childcare families the Act provides for the necessary matters for the payment of child allowances in FY2011, etc. in thereby enabling a smooth transfer to the permanent system of benefits for children via the financial performance of FY2012.
2. Outline(1) Benefit amount/periodYounger than 3:Age 3 or older but before having graduated from elementary school (first/second child):Age 3 or older but before having graduated from elementary school (third or later child):Junior high school student: * The benefit period is from October 2011 through to March 2012. Payments are made in February and June, 2012.(2) Share of expensesIn accordance with the provisions of the Child Allowance Act the expense of the child allowances shall be shared by the government, local governments, and business operators, with any other expenses being covered by a state subsidy. (The expense with public service employees shall be borne by the attached agencies)(3) Others• The requirement of a domestic residence shall also be established for children (excluding cases of when studying abroad, etc.)• Allowances shall also be provided to any child admitted to a foster home, etc. through payments being made to the institution personnel• Allowances shall also be paid to a guardian of a minor or a person designated by the parents (only in cases where the parents, etc. are abroad) using the same conditions as with the parents (regarding custody/same livelihood) (payments can also be made in cases where the parents, etc. are living abroad)• Allowances shall be paid to the any person living with a child in cases where there is more than one person that meets the requirements regarding custody/same livelihood (allowances can be paid in cases of separation during divorce discussions but excluding the cases of when they work separated from their family)• Collection of day care expenses directly from the allowances shall be enabled. School meal expenses, etc. shall also be able to be paid from the allowances with the consent of the individual concerned.• Grants shall be established for enhancing childcare support services according to the actual situation in the individual regions.(4) Provision for review• The government shall take legislative measures for the permanent system of benefits for children via financial performance in FY2012 mainly through any necessary revisions of the Child Allowance Act and based on the amount of child allowances provided for in the Act. In doing so the government shall ensure to thoroughly discuss the relevant matters with the representative of a nationwide federation, as stipulated in the Local Autonomy Act, and other relevant parties, and make the effort to obtain their understanding.• Legislative measures shall involve the standards for income limits being discussed and applied to the benefits for June 2012 and later. In addition, taxation or financial measures, etc. for those subject to income limits shall be discussed and the necessary measures then taken.