Benefit principle be removed from disabled person self-support law

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Benefit principle be removed from disabled person self-support law
Akahata editorial (excerpts)

It has been a half year since the so-called law to assist the "self-support" of the disabled came into effect. Applying the "beneficiary-pays principle" to the disabled person's use of services, this law forces them to pay 10 percent of the costs.

Surveys conducted by organizations of the disabled as well as local governments have revealed that disabled persons suffering from sudden increases in their burdens caused by this law have had to cut back on their use of services or leave the facilities that had provided them with necessary services.

Due to the reduction in public assistance prompted by this law coupled with the decrease in use of services, these facilities are also faced with severe financial difficulties.

It is urgent to thoroughly review the self-support assistance law and remove the "beneficiary-pays principle" from the disabled person's use of services.

Service users with lower income bear heavier burden

According to a nationwide survey conducted between July and September this year by a non-profit organization supporting the disabled in Osaka, more than 50 percent of disabled persons are forced to spend monthly over 10,000 yen more than last year for using the same services.

More than 30 percent of low-income households with disabled persons (main earner's annual income is less than 800,000 yen) are forced to pay from 10,000 to 30,000 yen more a month to receive the services.

Disabled persons with lower incomes tend to reduce their use of services or visits to hospital the most.

It has also been made clear that the "beneficiary-pays principle" is forcing people with more severe disabilities to bear heavier costs.

The NPO's survey has shown that 86 percent of households with disabled persons are calling for a revision of the system that will require them to pay 10 percent of the cost for services.

Pressed by disabled persons, an increasing number of local governments throughout the nation have adopted their own measures to reduce the burdens imposed on the disabled by the "self-support" law. However, these local governments' measures themselves indicate how serious the problem caused by the law is.

Being far from assisting the self-support of the disabled, this law is actually posing an obstacle to the self-support of disabled citizens.

In response to issues raised by Japanese Communist Party representative Takahashi Chizuko at the October 25 House of Representatives Health, Labor, and Welfare Committee meeting, Health Minister Yanagisawa Hakuo stated, "We will conduct surveys and review the system if necessary."

It is significant that the Abe cabinet for the first time promised to conduct surveys and review the system.

Disabled persons, their families, and supporters have made efforts to advance their movement against the law even after the Liberal Democratic and Komei parties forcibly enacted it a year ago. They have been demanding that the government swiftly revise the law.

Increase public voice and movement

The "self-support" assistance law symbolizes the Koizumi Cabinet's "structural reform" policy, bringing in the law of the jungle and measures to cut the budgets for social welfare programs.

The Japanese Communist Party will continue to join forces with disabled persons, their families, and supporters to achieve a drastic revision of the "self-support" assistance law as early as possible, including the removal of the "beneficiary-pays principle."
- Akahata, October 31, 2006