[In-house Survey] Depression and Disability Pension Inquiries Peak in June, Averaging Highest Over 4 Years

The Social Insurance and Labor Attorney Corporation National Disability Pension Partners (Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; Representative: Takeshi Miyazato), which specializes in disability pension application support for depression, announced the results of an analysis of its website's "Disability Pension Consultation Count (Free Eligibility Assessment)" (cumulative total of approximately 90,000 cases). The analysis found that over the four-year average from 2022 to 2025, June had the highest number of monthly consultations, and in each of the most recent four years, the number of consultations in June exceeded the monthly average for that year.

On the other hand, it also became clear that during the period around the COVID-19 pandemic, from 2018 to 2021, June ranked in the lower half of the year (7th to 10th place), indicating that the concentration of applications in June is a new trend that has emerged since 2022.

June is a period when, in addition to unstable weather and reduced daylight hours during the rainy season, several months have passed since the start of the new fiscal year, making leave of absence, resignation, and income reduction more likely to materialize, and physical and mental health issues and financial anxiety tend to overlap. The firm is using this opportunity to call attention to the importance of early awareness of the public disability pension system for those who cannot work due to depression and their families.

■ June has the highest average number of consultations over the last 4 years

In the most recent four years (2022-2025), the number of "Disability Pension Consultations (Free Eligibility Assessment)" in June exceeded the monthly average for that year every year.

The results for each year are as follows:

2022: 1,130 applications in June, monthly average 1,035, +9.2% vs. monthly average
2023: 1,337 applications in June, monthly average 1,151, +16.1% vs. monthly average
2024: 1,594 applications in June, monthly average 1,413, +12.8% vs. monthly average
2025: 1,504 applications in June, monthly average 1,392, +8.1% vs. monthly average

The average number of applications in June over the four years was 1,391, an increase of +11.5% compared to the overall monthly average (1,248). Furthermore, when comparing the monthly averages from 2022 to 2025, June ranked first among the 12 months.

・Top 5 months by average number of consultations (2022-2025)
Rank 1: June, 1,391 average applications, +11.5% vs. overall monthly average
Rank 2: October, 1,338 average applications, +7.3% vs. overall monthly average
Rank 3: September, 1,318 average applications, +5.6% vs. overall monthly average
Rank 4: May, 1,310 average applications, +5.0% vs. overall monthly average
Rank 5: March, 1,255 average applications, +0.6% vs. overall monthly average

■ The "June peak" trend has been observed since 2022

Looking at the entire eight-year period (2018-2025), June ranked second in average monthly consultations (after October).

Organizing the annual ranking for June each year reveals a clear difference between 2018-2021 and 2022 onwards.

2018: June ranked 9th for the year, lower half
2019: June ranked 7th for the year, lower half
2020: June ranked 10th for the year, lower half
2021: June ranked 9th for the year, lower half
2022: June ranked 3rd for the year, shifted to upper half
2023: June ranked 5th for the year, upper half
2024: June ranked 2nd for the year, upper half
2025: June ranked 4th for the year, upper half

From 2018 to 2021, June ranked in the lower half of the year (7th-10th), but since 2022, it has shifted to the upper half (2nd-5th) for four consecutive years.

This analysis does not demonstrate a causal relationship between the rainy season and worsening depression symptoms, nor does it attribute the change in trend since 2022 to any specific social factor. The data suggests that in recent years, following the COVID-19 pandemic and changes in work styles and living environments, there is a tendency for people who cannot work due to depression and their families to seek information about disability pensions more frequently in June.

■ The overlapping anxieties of "inability to work" and "living expenses" during the rainy season

When a state of being unable to work due to depression continues, the individual and their family face various anxieties.

"I don't know when I can return to work." "I'm worried about life after my sickness and injury benefit runs out." "I'm scared of my savings dwindling." "I'm worried I'm being a burden on my family." "I've heard of the disability pension system, but I don't know if I'm eligible."

These are common concerns heard daily at the firm's consultation desk.

Researching the system, gathering necessary documents, and requesting a medical certificate from a doctor while feeling unwell is a significant burden for the individual. While mental illnesses like depression can be eligible for disability pensions depending on the condition, it is not a system where receiving benefits is guaranteed simply by having a diagnosis. Multiple factors need to be checked, including the date of first medical examination, insurance premium payment requirements, the state of disability, the content of the medical certificate, and consistency with the statement of medical history and employment status.

Therefore, it is crucial to learn about disability pensions correctly at an early stage, rather than researching the system when one's livelihood is already at its limit.

■ Three things to check early, precisely because June sees more consultations

When considering applying for a disability pension, it is important to check the possibility of eligibility early on, rather than starting the process when one's livelihood is at its limit.

The following three points are basic items to confirm first.

1. Confirm the date of first medical examination: In disability pensions, the date of the first visit to a medical institution (date of first medical examination) is a crucial factor in the application.
2. Check the insurance premium payment requirements: Eligibility to apply may vary depending on the status of pension premium payments over a certain period.
3. Organize your current living and working situation: Disability pensions are not determined solely by the name of the illness. The degree of impact on daily life and work is also an important factor in the assessment.

Before dismissing it as "not relevant to me," learning the basics of the system is the first step towards peace of mind.

■ Why June is positioned as the "time to deliver system information"

Based on this data analysis, the firm positions June as the "time to deliver information about disability pensions to people who cannot work due to depression."

Several months into the new fiscal year, this is a time when physical and mental health issues, leave of absence, resignation, and income reduction are likely to become a reality, compounded by the difficulty of going out or visiting a hospital during the rainy season. The data shows that many people are struggling alone with financial anxiety without knowing about the system.

The firm will continue to promote correct understanding and utilization of the disability pension system, aiming to realize a society where people who have difficulty working due to depression can be freed from financial anxiety and concentrate on their treatment and recovery with peace of mind.

■ Comment from Takeshi Miyazato, Representative of the Social Insurance and Labor Attorney Corporation National Disability Pension Partners

In each of the last four years, the number of consultations for "Disability Pension Free Assessment" in June exceeded the monthly average for that year, and over the four-year average, June ranked first among all months. Furthermore, while June ranked in the lower half of the year from 2018 to 2021, it has shifted to the upper half since 2022.

While we cannot assert a causal relationship, there is certainly a tendency in recent years for people whose health and financial anxieties overlap to seek out the system in June.

We will continue to spread correct understanding of the disability pension system so that people suffering from depression can break free from the state of "not being able to rest due to financial worries" and face their treatment and life with some peace of mind.

■ Survey Overview

Survey Target: Monthly data held by National Disability Pension Partners (consultation count for "Disability Pension Free Assessment" on its own website)
Survey Period: January 2018 to April 2026 (100 months)
Cumulative Data Count: 90,764 cases
Main Analysis Items: Monthly consultation count, comparison with each year's monthly average, monthly average ranking, annual ranking