August 20, 2013
Representatives of civil groups made representations on August 19 to the welfare minister about the fact that a lot of welfare offices have refused to accept complaints about cuts in welfare benefits.
The Abe government began to reduce welfare benefit payments starting August 1. The percentage of the reduction is projected to reach 10% in three years, which is the biggest cut in the postwar period. In opposition to the reduction program, groups of households on welfare and a national network of lawyers called for a campaign to file complaints to the administrative authorities, which has been spreading across the country.
Recently, it has been revealed that many welfare offices in municipalities are dismissing those claims and telling complainants to go to prefectural offices. The Administrative Complaint Investigation Law, however, specifies that along with prefectural offices, welfare offices are obligated to accept complaints.
Ahead of the representations on the same day, leaders of four groups held a press conference in the welfare ministry building. Lawyer Kokubo Tetsuro said that the lawyers’ network provided a telephone counseling service nationwide on August 6 and 7, and there were at least nine cases this month in which welfare offices turned away petitioners at the door. He cited two recent examples: in Osaka City, the city government told welfare offices in the city to have claimants submit their complaints to the Osaka Prefectural Government first; and in Sendai City, Miyagi, it took as long as two hours until the welfare office, not aware of its legal obligation, accepted a complaint.
Kokubo added, “These cases seem to be just the tip of the iceberg.” The leaders demanded that the central government keep welfare offices informed about the act as well as direct them to stop using such obstructive tactics.
The Abe government began to reduce welfare benefit payments starting August 1. The percentage of the reduction is projected to reach 10% in three years, which is the biggest cut in the postwar period. In opposition to the reduction program, groups of households on welfare and a national network of lawyers called for a campaign to file complaints to the administrative authorities, which has been spreading across the country.
Recently, it has been revealed that many welfare offices in municipalities are dismissing those claims and telling complainants to go to prefectural offices. The Administrative Complaint Investigation Law, however, specifies that along with prefectural offices, welfare offices are obligated to accept complaints.
Ahead of the representations on the same day, leaders of four groups held a press conference in the welfare ministry building. Lawyer Kokubo Tetsuro said that the lawyers’ network provided a telephone counseling service nationwide on August 6 and 7, and there were at least nine cases this month in which welfare offices turned away petitioners at the door. He cited two recent examples: in Osaka City, the city government told welfare offices in the city to have claimants submit their complaints to the Osaka Prefectural Government first; and in Sendai City, Miyagi, it took as long as two hours until the welfare office, not aware of its legal obligation, accepted a complaint.
Kokubo added, “These cases seem to be just the tip of the iceberg.” The leaders demanded that the central government keep welfare offices informed about the act as well as direct them to stop using such obstructive tactics.
