🏦 Pension Account as Public Money Account

❓ What's changing?

Japan Pension Service (JPS) will mail pension recipients a "Confirmation of Intention Regarding Registration of Your Pension Deposit Account as a Public Money Receiving Account" starting in August 2026. Alongside this, on 4 August 2026 JPS added guidance on the form to its Pension Chatbot. In a chat format it answers when the form is mailed and what to do if you do not consent to the registration. It is available at any time; clicking the banner on the official site takes you to the chatbot service operated externally (by Fujitsu) under JPS management. A Public Money Receiving Account is a bank account you register with the government in advance for receiving benefits, refunds and similar payments. Until now you had to register it yourself through Mynaportal or a bank counter. This time the flow is reversed: JPS asks you in writing whether the account your pension is already paid into may be registered as your Public Money Receiving Account. If you do not want it registered, you must follow the procedure described in the form, so open the envelope and check the reply method and deadline.

👥 Who is affected?

• ●Anyone receiving a Japanese public pension (old-age, disability or survivors) who gets the form from August 2026
• ●Foreign residents whose pension is paid into a Japanese bank account
• ●Pension recipients who have not yet registered a Public Money Receiving Account
• ●People who do not want their pension account registered (a procedure is required)
• ●Family members or colleagues helping someone with pension paperwork

🌏 Impact on foreign residents

Foreign residents receiving a Japanese public pension are covered by this mailing too. Both the form and the chatbot are provided in Japanese, so if you leave the envelope unopened because you cannot read it, you may miss your chance to state your intention. Registration means that when you later apply for benefits or refunds you can skip writing your account number and attaching a copy of your bankbook; but if you simply do not want your account details held by the government in advance, you must act yourself. If you have moved and your registered address is out of date the letter will not reach you, so check that your pension address details are current. Guidance is given in writing and on the official website — never respond to calls or emails asking for your cash card or PIN, and confirm through the official site or a pension office.