Japan Press Weekly

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2013 January 9 - 15 [WELFARE]

LDP gov’t will go forward with cuts in livelihood protection

Welfare Minister Tamura Norihisa has announced a plan to slash the livelihood protection standard by 10%. The change of government to the Liberal Democratic Party has led to the growing possibility of cuts in the livelihood protection program.

A 69-year-old man living in Kanagawa’s Yokosuka City has received public welfare assistance since 2005 when his mother required nursing care at home.

His 93-year-old mother, who almost lost her eyesight due to glaucoma, refused to stay at a nursing-care facility during the daytime because she worried about her impaired vision. The man had to provide constant care to his mother and it became difficult for him to continue working. As a result, he quit his job and applied for public assistance.

This family’s monthly income is made up of 67,394 yen in welfare benefits and 76,466 yen in pension benefits which the man and his mother receive. If the protection standard is lowered, the amount of welfare benefit for the family will be reduced by 7,000 yen a month.

They live in an old wooden apartment without a bath. Because their income is insufficient to install an air conditioner, they have to endure the scorching summer heat with only an electric fan. Their TV set has been broken since last June. “I don’t think that our current living can be considered ‘wholesome and cultured’,” said the man.

The minimum household income eligible for public assistance is 138,839 yen a month. Meanwhile, in reports submitted to a welfare ministry’s council on the livelihood protection standard, the minimum amount of monthly basic living expenses ranges from the least 152,832 yen to the maximum 212, 000 yen.

Bukkyo University professor Kanazawa Seiichi, whose academic specialization is social welfare, said to Akahata, “The estimations of minimum cost of living in the council exceed the standard for livelihood protection. This suggests that the estimated amount should be considered as a minimum standard guaranteeing ‘wholesome and cultured living.’”

The professor criticized the welfare minister’s plan, saying, “In Japan, among households with income less than the livelihood protection standard, only 20% receive welfare assistance. Nevertheless, the government intends to adversely revise the welfare assistance program. It is like putting the cart before horse.”