Claims — Frequently Asked Questions

Answers below are summaries of the governing rules. Where an answer and the rule differ, the rule prevails.

Can the 90-day deadline be extended?

No. The deadline is statutory. Claims filed on day 91 are refused without assessment.

Fee waivers

Claimants with two or more approved claims from separate incidents within any rolling 12-month period are exempt from the ¥12,000 assessment fee. The waiver is applied automatically at lodgement; no separate application is required.

The waiver counts approved claims only. Refused, withdrawn and pending claims do not count toward the two-claim threshold. Two claims arising from the same incident count once.

I own several affected properties. One claim or several?

One claim per property per incident. Each claim attracts its own assessment fee unless a waiver applies.

I am a tenant. Can I claim?

Yes, for contents and business interruption. Structural damage is claimed by the owner. Attach proof of tenancy.

My insurer already paid. Is it still worth claiming?

Often. The award is reduced by the insurance payout but not disqualified — see insurance offsets.