Japan Press Weekly

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2013 November 6 - 12 [WELFARE]

Stop inquiring into incomes of relatives of welfare benefits applicants: JCP Koike

The House of Councilors entered into a discussion on November 7 in regard to a government-submitted bill to intensify the scrutiny of incomes and properties of welfare benefits-seekers’ relatives. Meanwhile, it has come to light that local authorities across the country have already sent detailed written inquiries to the relatives of those who applied for welfare benefits.

Japanese Communist Party member of the Upper House Koike Akira grilled the central government about the issue at the House’s welfare committee meeting, showing a written question the Nagano city government sent to a sister of a man who filed an application for welfare benefits. Koike also pointed out that this kind of intrusion also occurred in Tokyo, Kanagawa, Chiba, and Okayama prefectures.

The inquiry from Nagano City required the woman to enter her occupation, monthly income, property and debt information, and to attach to the form her most recent pay slip and loan repayment schedule. It also explained that any person who wants to go on welfare first needs to get financial assistance from his/her relatives. This description goes against the current Livelihood Protection Law.

The woman dissuaded her brother from becoming a welfare recipient after receiving the form.

Koike urged the Welfare Ministry to direct local authorities to put a stop to such action, saying, “When people apply for welfare benefits, authorities closely investigate the personal matters of their relatives. If they refuse to answer the questions, authorities make inquiries at their banks and offices. This will create discord, distrust and animosity between relatives.”

Welfare Minister Tamura Norihisa replied, “The current law does not oblige those seeking welfare benefits to first get assistance from their relatives. I promise to instruct local governments to follow the law.”

The JCP parliamentarian demanded that the administration retract the bill, arguing that stepping up means-tests of relatives will increasingly keep needy people away from applying for public assistance.