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Japan Press Service Co., Ltd. is the only news agency providing information of progressive, democratic movements in Japan

Government bullies elderly people on welfare

Under the Koizumi Cabinet policy of slashing expenditures on social welfare programs, additional elderly benefits for livelihood protection beneficiaries 70 years old and over was abolished last April. 44 members of the Tokyo association for safeguarding people's living and health, who have lost the additional benefits, have filed a complaint to the Tokyo Metropolitan Government on the grounds that the abolition is unjust.

The additional payment of nearly 18,000 yen a month for the elderly was aimed at helping them due to their declining physical functions. The national government began to reduce the benefit in a phased manner since FY 2004, and it was abolished totally this year.

A 83 year old complainant, Arai Tomie, who is now hospitalized said, "I want the government to stop neglecting the elderly."

When 60 years old, she had surgery to remove half of her liver. Since then she received livelihood protection benefits because she has been unable to work. In April, because of the removal of the supplemental payment for the elderly, her livelihood protection benefit was reduced by 6,900 yen to about 124,000 yen. In addition to this, her ward's subsidy for telephone charges was abolished in FY 2004, and its free public bath tickets are no longer available.

She became distressed and lost her appetite because of the increase in financial burdens one after another, and her physical condition worsened. She did not consult a doctor because she was afraid of not being able to afford the medical charges. Since May, when she was hospitalized due to chronic kidney failure, she has needed to receive dialysis treatment. She regrets not consulting a doctor earlier. She said, "The government and local municipalities should guarantee decent living conditions to everyone."
- Akahata, June 27, 2006