Children and family
Tokyo's 018 Support Cash Benefit: Age and Residency Rules Explained
018 Support (018サポート in Japanese) is a cash benefit created independently by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government for children living in Tokyo. It covers children from birth until the first March 31 after they turn 18, provided they generally have residency within Tokyo, and there is no household income limit. A foreign child's eligibility is not determined by nationality alone; the same age and Tokyo-residency requirements apply. The program is continuing in fiscal year 2026.
018サポート
- Region
- Tokyo Metropolis (children must generally have residency within the Tokyo metropolitan area)
- Responsible body
- Tokyo Metropolitan Government, Bureau of Social Welfare (program operated by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government)
- Last reviewed
- 2026-08-28
- About this article
- Independent private site
018 Support is run by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government's Bureau of Social Welfare as a Tokyo-specific benefit, separate from nationwide child-related programs. It targets children from birth through the first March 31 after their 18th birthday, and generally requires the child to have residency in Tokyo. There is no income cap for the household. Because payment timing details are updated on the official FAQ page each fiscal year, families should not assume that last year's schedule automatically applies to the current year and should check the current posting directly.
Who it is for
- Child is from birth until the first March 31 after turning 18
- Child generally has residency within Tokyo Metropolis
- No household income limit applies
- Eligibility is not determined by the parent's or guardian's nationality alone — age, Tokyo residency, and the covered period must each be confirmed individually
Points to note
- Some assume that families with foreign-national parents are automatically excluded, but the parent's nationality alone does not decide eligibility; Tokyo residency and other conditions must be checked
- Some assume high household income disqualifies a family, but 018 Support has no income limit
- Some assume the payment timing stays identical every year, but the official FAQ is updated annually with the current fiscal year's payment schedule
The benefit amount is described as 5,000 yen per month, equivalent to about 60,000 yen per year, but the exact payment deadline and payment date can change from year to year and cannot be stated as fixed at this time. The Tokyo Metropolitan Government updates its official FAQ annually, and information about the fiscal year 2026 payment timing is currently posted there. Whether a specific child meets the Tokyo residency requirement or falls within the covered age period depends on individual circumstances, so always confirm the latest details directly on the official 018 Support FAQ page.
How it works
- Visit the official 018 Support FAQ page and confirm the fiscal year 2026 eligibility conditions currently listed
- Check the FAQ for the posted fiscal year 2026 payment timing information
- If Tokyo residency or the covered age period is unclear for your situation, confirm with the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Bureau of Social Welfare through the official page
Frequently asked questions
Can a child with foreign-national parents receive 018 Support?
The parent's nationality alone does not determine eligibility. What matters is whether the child is within the covered age range (birth through the first March 31 after turning 18) and generally has residency in Tokyo, along with other listed conditions.
Does a high household income disqualify a family from 018 Support?
No income limit is set for this program. However, other conditions such as Tokyo residency and the covered age period still need to be confirmed.