On May 27^th, 2021, the "Second Meeting of Experts on Disability Pensions for People with Visual Impairments" was held, and the "Proposal to Review the Criteria for Classification of Disability Levels and the Form of Medical Certificate for People with Visual Impairments" was compiled.

The review was based primarily on the criteria for disability levels laid down in the Act of Welfare of Physically Disabled Persons, which was revised on 1 July 2008. However, while the Act of Welfare of Physically Disabled Persons classifies disability into six levels, the disability pension is divided into four categories: three levels and a disability allowance (a lump-sum payment). Levels 1-2 of the Disability Welfare Law correspond to level 1 of the disability pension, level 3 to level 2, level 4 to level 3, and levels 5-6 to the disability allowance.

The main amendments include a change in the criteria for assessing visual acuity from "the sum of the visual acuity of the two eyes" to "visual acuity in the better eye", and the addition of an automatic visual field monitor as a method of assessing visual fields. The same amendments were made to the Act of Welfare of Physically Disabled Persons. For more information, please visit the following website (Japanese only).

https://www.mhlw.go.jp/stf/shingi/other-nenkin_129233.html