As your resignation approaches, your company may ask you, “Do you need an employment separation certificate (rishokuhyo)?” But many people are left puzzled, unsure of “what exactly a rishokuhyo is,” “when they will receive it,” and “how it differs from a certificate of resignation.” The rishokuhyo is an essential document for receiving unemployment benefits, and if it is delayed, your benefit application itself will be delayed. This article explains, in a way that is easy to understand even for first-timers, the meaning and role of the rishokuhyo, when it is issued and how it reaches you, how it differs from the easily confused certificate of resignation (taishoku shomeisho) and separation report (rishoku shomeisho), and how to have it reissued if you lose it.
What Is a Rishokuhyo? The Official Document Required to Apply for Unemployment Benefits
The employment separation certificate (rishokuhyo; official name: Employment Insurance Insured Person Separation Certificate) is an official document proving that you have left your company and lost your status as an insured person under employment insurance. It is always required when a departing employee applies for unemployment benefits (basic allowance) at Hello Work (the public employment office). A distinctive feature is that it is issued not by the company but by Hello Work, and it reaches the former employee by way of the company.
In addition to the fact of your departure, the rishokuhyo states the “reason for separation” and “your wages for the six months prior to leaving,” and these are used to calculate when your unemployment benefits begin, how many days they are paid, and how much you receive. In other words, the rishokuhyo is a document that directly affects your post-departure livelihood by determining the amount of your unemployment benefits and when they begin.
There Are Two Types: Rishokuhyo-1 and Rishokuhyo-2
The rishokuhyo is issued as a set of two sheets: “Rishokuhyo-1” and “Rishokuhyo-2.” Both are needed to apply for unemployment benefits, so be sure to check that you have both.
Rishokuhyo-1 (Notice of Confirmation of Loss of Insured Status): A document notifying you that you have lost your employment insurance status. It has a field where you personally fill in the bank account for your unemployment benefit deposits.
Rishokuhyo-2 (the copy of the separation report issued to you): A document stating the reason for separation and your wage amount before leaving. If there is anything in the reason for separation that differs from the facts, you can raise an objection in the space provided for your own entry.
In particular, the reason for separation written on Rishokuhyo-2—whether it is “company-initiated” or “personal reasons”—greatly changes the timing of when benefits begin and the number of days they are paid. If the stated content differs from the facts, be sure to check it before signing and sealing, and raise an objection if you have one.
When Do You Receive the Rishokuhyo? The Issuance Process and Rough Timeline
The rishokuhyo is not something you receive on the spot on your last day. Because it is issued after procedures involving both your company and Hello Work, it takes a certain number of days to reach you.
The Issuance Process
The rishokuhyo reaches the former employee through the following steps.
1. The company submits to Hello Work: Within 10 days from the day after next following your last day of work, the company submits the “separation report” (rishoku shomeisho) to Hello Work.
2. Hello Work issues the rishokuhyo: After confirming the submitted content, Hello Work issues Rishokuhyo-1 and Rishokuhyo-2 to the company.
3. The company sends it to you: The company mails (or hands over) the rishokuhyo to the former employee’s home.
Expect It About 10 Days to 2 Weeks After Leaving
Because it goes through the process above, the rishokuhyo generally reaches the former employee roughly 10 days to 2 weeks after the last day of work. Depending on the company’s procedures and mailing timing, it can take around 2 to 3 weeks. If you want to apply for unemployment benefits quickly, it is reassuring to check with your HR representative before leaving about “when the rishokuhyo will arrive.”
What to Do If It Doesn’t Arrive
If the rishokuhyo has not arrived even after more than three weeks since leaving, first check the issuance status with the company you left. If they still fail to respond, consult the Hello Work office that has jurisdiction over your area of residence, and Hello Work can prompt the company to submit it. Hello Work will also assist in special circumstances, such as when the company has gone bankrupt.
What Is the Rishokuhyo Used For? Who Needs It and Who Doesn’t
The main use of the rishokuhyo is to apply for unemployment benefits (basic allowance) at Hello Work. In addition, it may be required when applying for a reduction of National Health Insurance premiums or when going through the procedures to become a dependent on a family member’s insurance.
Whether you need it depends on your situation after leaving. Use the following as a guide.
Those who need it: People who will not change jobs right away after leaving and will look for a new job while receiving unemployment benefits.
Those who generally don’t need it: People who will join their next company right after leaving, or who will become independent or self-employed (because they are not eligible for unemployment benefits).
However, even if you think “I’ll change jobs right away, so I don’t need it,” your start date may change and you may end up needing unemployment benefits. If you are unsure, it is safer to ask the company to issue the rishokuhyo just in case. In some cases the company will not prepare it unless you request it, so make your wishes known during the resignation procedures.
The Difference Between the Rishokuhyo and the Certificate of Resignation
The document most easily confused with the rishokuhyo is the “certificate of resignation” (taishoku shomeisho). Both are documents related to leaving a job, but they differ completely in who issues them, their purpose, and their legal effect.
Difference in issuer: The rishokuhyo is an official document issued by Hello Work. The certificate of resignation is a private document issued by the company itself.
Difference in purpose: The rishokuhyo is used to apply for unemployment benefits. The certificate of resignation is used as proof of the fact of resignation—for National Health Insurance and National Pension procedures, for becoming a dependent of a family member, when requested by a new employer, and so on.
Difference in content: The rishokuhyo states the reason for separation and wages in a fixed format. The certificate of resignation can list only the items you request (period of employment, job duties, position, wages, reason for leaving, and so on).
Difference in timing: The rishokuhyo takes 10 days to 2 weeks after leaving, after going through the procedures. The certificate of resignation can be issued relatively quickly once you request it from the company.
What Is a Certificate of Resignation?
The certificate of resignation is a document that, under the Labor Standards Act, the company is obligated to issue without delay when a former employee requests it (listing only the items the person has requested). It cannot be used to apply for unemployment benefits, but it may be accepted as a substitute when you need to hurry with switching over your National Health Insurance or pension before the rishokuhyo arrives.
Sorting Out the Difference From the Separation Report, Too
Even more confusing is the “separation report” (rishoku shomeisho). The separation report is a document the company submits to Hello Work, and it serves as the “source” from which the rishokuhyo is issued. Keep in mind that what the former employee receives is not the separation report but the rishokuhyo itself. To sort it out, the relationship is: separation report (company → Hello Work) → rishokuhyo (Hello Work → company → you).
Points to Watch When Receiving the Rishokuhyo
Receiving the rishokuhyo is not the end of it. Check its contents to make sure nothing puts you at a disadvantage for unemployment benefits.
Always check the reason for separation: Whether the reason for separation on Rishokuhyo-2 is “company-initiated” or “personal reasons” changes the benefit restriction period and the number of days benefits are paid. If it differs from the facts, you can file an objection at Hello Work.
Check the wage entries: Your wage amount for the six months before leaving is the basis for the benefit amount. Check that there are no errors in the figures.
Fill in your name, address, and account details accurately: Fill in fields such as the deposit account section on Rishokuhyo-1 carefully so there are no mistakes.
Confirm you have both sheets: You can only apply once you have both Rishokuhyo-1 and Rishokuhyo-2. If one is missing, contact the company.
What If You Lose Your Rishokuhyo? How to Get It Reissued
Even if you lose your rishokuhyo, it can be reissued. The former employee can obtain a reissue by submitting an “Application for Reissuance of Employment Insurance Insured Person Separation Certificate” at a Hello Work counter. You can also apply online through “e-Gov,” the comprehensive portal for e-Government.
When applying, bring identity verification documents (such as a driver’s license or My Number card). Applying directly to Hello Work yourself is faster than going through the company you left.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Rishokuhyo
Q. Can I issue the rishokuhyo myself?
Because the rishokuhyo itself is issued after procedures involving the company and Hello Work, a former employee cannot create it on their own. However, if the company is neglecting to submit the separation report, you can consult Hello Work and have them prompt the company to submit it.
Q. Do I need the rishokuhyo even if I change jobs right after leaving?
If you will not receive unemployment benefits, the rishokuhyo is generally not needed. What you need at your new job is the “Employment Insurance Insured Person Card,” which is a separate document from the rishokuhyo. That said, since your start date could change, it is reassuring to have it issued just in case.
Q. Are the rishokuhyo and the separation report the same thing?
They are different. The separation report is a document the company submits to Hello Work, and based on its content Hello Work issues the rishokuhyo. What the former employee receives is the rishokuhyo.
Q. How long should I keep the rishokuhyo?
Once you have completely finished receiving your unemployment benefits, the rishokuhyo has served its purpose, but to guard against procedural trouble it is reassuring to keep it for several months even after your benefits are complete.
Summary | The Rishokuhyo Is Essential for Unemployment Benefits—Know When It Arrives
The rishokuhyo is an official document essential for receiving unemployment benefits; it is issued by Hello Work and reaches you by way of the company. Expect it to arrive roughly 10 days to 2 weeks after leaving, and you can only apply once you have both Rishokuhyo-1 and Rishokuhyo-2. Keep in mind that it differs in role from the “certificate of resignation,” a private document issued by the company, and the “separation report,” which the company submits to Hello Work.
To receive your unemployment benefits smoothly, it is important to request the rishokuhyo before leaving and, once it arrives, to always check the reason for separation and the wage entries. Prepare it thoroughly, along with the other documents you receive when you leave, so nothing is overlooked.
