Japan Press Weekly

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2014 January 22 - 28 [WELFARE]

Cuts in welfare benefits in Oita was unfair: court ruling

The Oita District Court on January 27 acknowledged that the Oita City government unfairly cut back on the amount of social security benefits to a 57-year-old man, and ordered the local government to pay the difference.

The plaintiff works as a carpenter and uses a car to carry his work tools.

The city government told him to accept the city evaluation that his income is higher than the actual amount he receives as a condition for allowing him to keep the car.

The man argued in the court that he has long suffered from cuts in social welfare benefits, and his family’s right to live has been violated.

The judgment stated that it was unjustifiable for the city to assess the recipient’s income as higher than the actual annual income even if the man agreed to do so, and ordered the city government to pay the difference as well as compensation for damages.

The plaintiff’s lawyer said, “The ruling is significant as it recognized as inappropriate the city’s attitude which discourages welfare recipients from trying to earn their own living.”