April 9, 2010
A record number of Japanese households were living on welfare benefits in January, reflecting the severe employment situation.
The welfare ministry says more than 1.31 million households were receiving benefits in January, up about 11,000 from the previous month.
Of these 11,000, the elderly made up about 2,280 households, single mother households around 1,110, and households with handicapped people about 960.
5,490 households, the largest percentage of all, fell into the category of "others," which includes the unemployed.
The number receiving welfare began rising in March last year as the job situation deteriorated. In the 11 months since then, the monthly increase has exceeded 10,000 households.
The rise means more than 1.82 million people were on welfare in January, up about 16,000 from a month earlier.
The ministry says it will enhance support measures for the unemployed to prevent a further increase in welfare enrollment.
2010/04/09 11:20(JST)
(JST: UTC+9hrs.)
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