Japan Press Weekly

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2012 July 25 - 31 [WELFARE]

Welfare applicants concerned with requirement of kinship support

Akahata Sunday edition

The Democratic Party-led government is considering imposing a stricter obligation to provide assistance onto relatives of a welfare benefit applicant for the purpose of trimming government spending for pubic livelihood assistance.

Even now, many of those who live on welfare feel guilty towards their family members. A tougher requirement for support will further deter needy people from applying for assistance.

Welfare Minister Komiyama Yoko recently announced that the ministry will embark on a study to see if it can impose an obligation on applicant’s family to prove their inability to support the applicant. The ministry is also considering revising the system so that it can seek the return of benefits from relatives if they are judged capable of supporting one more family member.

The Liberal Democratic Party is backing this move by arguing that the family member deemed responsible for support should submit a certificate of tax payment and a bank statement to show, for example, that he/she has children’s school loans or mortgage payments and thus cannot financially support a needy member.

A 78-year-old woman became unable to live on her own. So, the woman asked her daughter to take care of her but the daughter said “No” due to her own family’s budget crisis. The woman then asked her brother but he also refused to give her support because he himself lives solely on pension benefits.

Fortunately, the woman now receives pubic livelihood assistance. She is concerned that future applicants may have to undergo similar humiliating experiences when applying for welfare benefits.

A 57-year-old man in Chiba had no money left in savings and no healthcare insurance, though he suffered from a severe back pain. When he finally went to see a doctor, he could no longer walk. Advised by the doctor, he went on welfare. But, he says, “I have caused my mother and brother financial difficulties already. I don’t want to ask them for more money.”

A 64-year-old man in Chiba required immediate hospitalization for diabetes but he had neither the money to pay for treatment nor healthcare insurance. Learning of a possible administrative investigation of his family members’ financial situation, he decided to not apply for welfare assistance. He said, “I don’t want to give my sister anymore hardships. She already has to take care of our father.”

Nagatomo Yuzo, professor at Saitama Prefectural University, stated, “An obligation requirement on relatives to support a needy family member will discourage people in need of public assistance from appylying. Family members who are forced to give support may also fall into serious financial difficulties.”