November 13, 2019

Many who sought help from an advice center for their inability to pay national health insurance premiums/tax due to hard times were non-regular workers with a monthly income of less than 250,000 yen.

The delinquency counseling center consisting of volunteer tax accountants on November 11 reported on the situation of premiums/tax delinquents at its general assembly in Tokyo.

According to the center's report, about 70% of a total of 294 cases over the past three years were requested by wage earners, and most of them were temps, part-timers, and other types of low-paid non-regular workers.

Because they live on very little money in the first place, they easily fall into poverty once they become ill, have an accident, or lose their jobs, which may lead to arrears in payment.

The report also reveals that many municipalities seize delinquents' wages or savings with no reference to their condition.

Established in 2015, the center has been providing support to people who are forced into arrears for reasons such as accidents, illness, and dismissals. About 30 volunteer tax accountants have given advice to more than 600 people so far.

Past related articles:
> Number of elderly experiencing asset seizure due to arrears in public health insurance premium increases eightfold [August 11, 2019]
> 349K households in arrears with national health insurance premiums had their assets seized in 2017 [April 14, 2019]