Consultation Support Recipient Certificates
When you use disability welfare services in Japan, two things happen behind the scenes that many families do not realize involve their own recipient certificates. The first is when someone helps a person with a disability move out of a hospital or residential facility and into the community. The second is when a specialist creates and monitors the service use plan that coordinates all of a person’s disability services. Both of these are covered by their own recipient certificates, and both are free to the person using them.
This article covers the two consultation support recipient certificates in the disability welfare system: the community consultation support recipient certificate (chiiki soudan shien jukyuusha shou / 地域相談支援受給者証) and the planned consultation support recipient certificate (keikaku soudan shien jukyuusha shou / 計画相談支援受給者証).
For a broader overview of the consultation and support system, see our article on consultation and support centers for families.
Part 1: The Community Consultation Support Recipient Certificate (Chiiki Soudan Shien Jukyuusha Shou / 地域相談支援受給者証)
This certificate authorizes two services:
Community transition support (chiiki ikou shien / 地域移行支援) helps a person with a disability move from a hospital, residential facility (shougaisha shien shisetsu / 障害者支援施設), or other institutional setting into community living. The support includes finding housing, making day visits to the community to practice daily life, connecting with local services, arranging peer support from other people with disabilities who have already transitioned, and coordinating the move. This is a time-limited service, typically approved for six months with possible extensions.
Community settlement support (chiiki teichaku shien / 地域定着支援) provides ongoing support after the person has moved into the community. A 24-hour emergency contact system is set up so the person can reach their support agency at any time if a problem arises. The agency provides emergency visits, crisis support, and regular check-ins to help the person maintain their community living arrangement.
Why this matters for families of people with disabilities
If your child is currently in a residential facility or a psychiatric hospital and you want them to transition to community living, such as moving into a group home (guruupu hoomu / グループホーム) or their own apartment, this is the certificate that funds the professional support for that transition. Without it, the family is left to coordinate the move on their own. With it, a trained consultation support specialist handles the housing search, community connections, and logistics.
How to apply
Apply at your disability welfare desk (shougai fukushi ka / 障害福祉課). A disability handbook (shougaisha techou / 障害者手帳, also called a disability certificate) or similar documentation is typically required. A designated specified consultation support agency (shitei tokutei soudan shien jigyousho / 指定特定相談支援事業所) will create a service use plan, and the municipality will issue the community consultation support recipient certificate (chiiki soudan shien jukyuusha shou / 地域相談支援受給者証).
Cost
Free. There is no copay for community consultation support services.
Part 2: The Planned Consultation Support Recipient Certificate (Keikaku Soudan Shien Jukyuusha Shou / 計画相談支援受給者証)
What this certificate covers
When you apply for disability welfare services, the municipality requires a service use plan (saabisu tou riyou keikaku / サービス等利用計画) that outlines which services your child will use, how often, and from which providers. This plan is created by a consultation support specialist (soudan shien senmonin / 相談支援専門員) at a designated specified consultation support agency (shitei tokutei soudan shien jigyousho / 指定特定相談支援事業所).
The planned consultation support recipient certificate (keikaku soudan shien jukyuusha shou / 計画相談支援受給者証) authorizes this agency to create and monitor your plan. It covers two activities:
Service utilization support (saabisu riyou shien / サービス利用支援) is the initial creation of the service use plan. The specialist visits your home, interviews you and your family, assesses your child’s needs, and creates a comprehensive plan. This plan is submitted to the municipality as part of the service approval process.
Continuing service utilization support (keizoku saabisu riyou shien / 継続サービス利用支援) is the ongoing monitoring and updating of the plan. The specialist checks in periodically to review whether the services are working, whether your child’s needs have changed, and whether the plan needs to be adjusted. The monitoring frequency is set by the municipality based on your child’s situation.
Why this matters for families of people with disabilities
Every family using disability welfare services interacts with this system, even if they do not realize it involves a separate certificate. The service use plan is what coordinates all of your child’s services into a single framework. The specialist who creates it is the person who knows your child’s full picture and can recommend adding, changing, or combining services. Building a good relationship with this specialist is one of the most valuable things you can do for your child’s care.
How to apply
When you apply for disability welfare services at the disability welfare desk (shougai fukushi ka / 障害福祉課), the municipality will ask you to choose a consultation support agency to create your plan. You can ask the welfare desk for a list of agencies in your area. The planned consultation support recipient certificate is issued as part of this process.
Cost
Free. There is no copay for planned consultation support services.
Practical Tips
If your child is in a facility or hospital and you are considering community living, ask the facility about community transition support (chiiki ikou shien / 地域移行支援). The facility should help connect you with a consultation support agency that can manage the transition.
Ask your disability welfare desk (shougai fukushi ka / 障害福祉課) who your designated consultation support agency is. If you do not have one, request one. The service use plan they create is the foundation of your child’s entire support package.
Key Terms
| English | Japanese |
| Community consultation support recipient certificate | chiiki soudan shien jukyuusha shou / 地域相談支援受給者証 |
| Community transition support | chiiki ikou shien / 地域移行支援 |
| Community settlement support | chiiki teichaku shien / 地域定着支援 |
| Planned consultation support recipient certificate | keikaku soudan shien jukyuusha shou / 計画相談支援受給者証 |
| Service use plan | saabisu tou riyou keikaku / サービス等利用計画 |
| Consultation support specialist | soudan shien senmonin / 相談支援専門員 |
| Designated specified consultation support agency | shitei tokutei soudan shien jigyousho / 指定特定相談支援事業所 |
Useful Resources
MHLW: Consultation Support Overview (障害のある人に対する相談支援について) – covers both planned and community consultation support
MHLW: Community Transition Support, Independent Living Assistance, and Community Settlement Support (地域移行支援・自立生活援助・地域定着支援)
https://www.mhlw.go.jp/stf/newpage_41988.html
MHLW: Service Application Procedures (サービスの利用手続き)
https://www.mhlw.go.jp/bunya/shougaihoken/service/riyou.html
Osaka City: Community Consultation Support (地域相談支援) – application process, certificate issuance
https://www.city.osaka.lg.jp/fukushi/page/0000198496.html
Osaka City: Planned Consultation Support (計画相談支援) – service use plan creation process
https://www.city.osaka.lg.jp/fukushi/page/0000173623.html
Kanagawa Prefecture Disability Welfare Information Service: Community Consultation Support Application Process (地域相談支援給付の利用手順)
