No. of households on welfare reaches record high

Hmm, so only 50% of these recipients are over 60 years old. If the number of welfare recipients has increased shouldn't that also be reflected in an increase in unemployment? It seems someone is telling done porky-pies and the true statistics are being withheld.

No. of households on welfare reaches record high

But share prices are up. Let them eat premium noodles!

But what does it mean exactly? It seems remarkably low compared to, say, the UK, with only half Japan's population, where (2013 figures. It has probably dropped a bit now as the government starves the poor) 20.3 million families get some kind of benefit (64% of all families), about 8.7 million of them pensioners. And for 9.6 million families, benefits make up more than half of their income (30% of all families), around 5.3 million of them pensioners. Does allowance for children count as welfare in Japan? Or is this only those receiving a certain type of allowance? Or is this people who are 100% dependent on welfare?

abe doesn't give a damn. As long as the rich and elite are well take care of, the little people can quietly go away and become deceased as far as he is concerned.

It will only grow as time goes by and the elderly population explodes.. I've always thought the Japanese elderly were incredibly greedy in locking up their incredible wealth, but this statistic is a somber reminder that not all are well off..

Not surprising with an aging population and most middle aged workers having we work induced problems,

Right now if you are unemployed between 40 and 60 you can't find work. Part-time work won't no-one over 35 and "silver" work starts at 60-65yrs.

Big problem for middle age people, they can work but far away and the money barely covers commuting and lunch,

I'm just wondering why a Filipina with no child and with just a 3 yr visa extended thru the good grace of the divorced Jhusband was able to receive seikatsu hogo while still living with her ex Brazilian boyfriend. Is it because the city hall officials pitied her 2 poochies or because they pitied her because the Brazilian man left her? Either way, the welfare fund is wasting money on a woman who earn more from other means! Hence if the Japanese elderly is asking or receiving welfare is a bit saddening but no matter what they themselves shld be the ones enjoying welfare from their very own country. It must be given case to case basis and after gathering exhaustive info. Yrs. before, I know of one who used to have a food shop and when her partner was caught by the immigration officers, she shut it down and applied for a welfare. Half of her children was fathered by the overstayer and a couple or two from her ex J husband. Maybe because she had a lot of children, hence she received seikatsu hogo. But the city hall officials didn't know she had around 100 man stashed in an undeclared bank. Probably, with the My number system, this won't happen again.

People over the age of 60. Of that number, 90% live alone, the ministry said.

As it is with single mothers or other under onepercent citizens.

Yeah, prices rise and wages don't.

So the number of households on welfare goes up, Who-da-thunk-it?

why would anyone want to spend 300 hours a month in an office when the government offers almost the equivalent to a average monthly salary. I even saw a special one TV where a family of 3 live comfortably on welfare and enjoy their daily life. The husband states "Why should I get a stressed out in an office when the government is giving me almost 200,000 yen a month. So what we libv in a 1K apartment."

This will only climb, and climb, and climb. Government's answer? Tax the middle class more! More part-time workers! Lower corporate tax for our Keidanren cronies! 2020 Olympics!

Without money, people cannot consume. Let's see you fix that.

Another Abenomics success story! WINNING!

Expect to see elderly Japanese dropping dead of starvation soon....