Category: Welfare

by Michael Gillan Peckitt May 23, 2025 Number of comments0
Disability Japan Podcast Welfare

As Denial of Disability Pensions in Japan Double, Health Ministry Will “investigate the actual situation and make it public” [Podcast Episode]

Japan’s Minister of Health, Labor and Welfare Takamaro Fukuoka announced that he will investigate the actual situation and make the results public in one month. The incident began with a Kyodo News report dated April 28th. The report stated that the number of people who were denied disability pensions in fiscal 2024 is more than double the number in fiscal 2023, reaching about 30,000. It has also been mentioned that the requirements have become stricter since the director of the Japan Pension Service Disability Pension Center was replaced in October 2023, and that centre staff may be inducing doctors to deny pensions.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt May 22, 2025 1
Disability Japan Welfare

Doubts over doubling of disability pension denials: Minister Fukuoka will “investigate the actual situation and make it public”

Reports that the number of people who applied for disability pensions and were denied in fiscal year 2024 are causing a stir. For disabled people with low incomes, whether they can receive the pension or not is a matter of life and death, and several disability groups have issued statements expressing doubts and concerns, such as “this cannot be overlooked” and “this will greatly shake trust in the system.” The issue has also been raised in the Diet, and Minister of Health, Labor and Welfare Takamaro Fukuoka announced that he will investigate the actual situation and make the results public in one month. The incident began with a Kyodo News report dated April 28th. The report stated that the number of people who were denied disability pensions in fiscal 2024 is more than double the number in fiscal 2023, reaching about 30,000. It has also been mentioned that the requirements have become stricter since the director of the Japan Pension Service Disability Pension Center was replaced in October 2023, and that center staff may be inducing doctors to deny pensions.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt May 11, 2025 1
Barrier Free Disability Elderly Japan Welfare

Elderly and Disabled Woman in Mie Banned from Using Car for “overuse”

A woman, aged in her 80s, lives in the city of Suzuka in western Japan’s Mie Prefecture. She has an artificial bladder due to cancer and so is unable to work. Her son, with whom she lived before he passed away, suffered from an intractable disease and required canes to walk. Both had disability certificates. The woman had been receiving welfare since August 2019, but in September 2022, the payments abruptly stopped. Subsequent district and high court rulings accepted the mother and son’s claims, and ordered the city to rescind its decision, although the city appealed the ruling.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt May 5, 2025 Number of comments0
Abuse Children Japan Podcast Welfare

Golden Week ‘Shogai Podcast Shorts’ 3: Children’s Day [Podcast Episode]

The legislation for revisions to child welfare and other laws in Japan is designed to make it easier to restrict meetings of parents with their children under the protection of child consultation centers. Following the revisions, it will be possible to place such restrictions on parents and other guardians in cases in which abuse is suspected but not yet officially recognized. This will help prevent centers from falling into trouble with parents.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt May 4, 2025 Number of comments0
Disability Golden Week Intellectual disabilities Japan Podcast Welfare

Golden Week ‘Shogai Podcast Shorts’ 2: Greenery Day [Podcast Episode]

In response to a Kyodo News report that the number of people being denied Japan’s national disability pension has surged in fiscal 2024, the National Federation of Associations for the Support of Persons with Intellectual Disabilities (Zenkoku Te o Tsunagu Ikuseikai Rengōkai), which consists of individuals with intellectual disabilities and their families, issued a protest statement by May 2, saying, “If the report is true, it cannot be overlooked.” The organization is demanding that the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare verify the facts and publicly disclose the results.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt May 3, 2025 4
Disability Intellectual disabilities Japan Welfare

Protest Statement Issued by Japan National Intellectual Disability Organization Over Sharp Increase in Disability Pension Denials

In response to a Kyodo News report that the number of people being denied Japan’s national disability pension has surged in fiscal 2024, the National Federation of Associations for the Support of Persons with Intellectual Disabilities (Zenkoku Te o Tsunagu Ikuseikai Rengōkai), which consists of individuals with intellectual disabilities and their families, issued a protest statement by May 2, saying, “If the report is true, it cannot be overlooked.” The organization is demanding that the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare verify the facts and publicly disclose the results.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt April 24, 2025 1
Care Disability Group Homes (GH) Japan Welfare

Okinawa Group Home for People with Disabilities Suspected of Overcharging without Meeting Standards has Designation Revoked

A group home for people with disabilities located in Uruma City has been found to be operating without meeting required standards and allegedly overcharging for service benefits. The prefectural government has announced that it will revoke the facility’s designation as a disability welfare service provider.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt April 19, 2025 Number of comments0
Abuse Children Disability Japan Welfare

Japan Enacts Bill to Better Protect Kids from Abuse

The legislation for revisions to child welfare and other laws is designed to make it easier to restrict meetings of parents with their children under the protection of child consultation centers.
Following the revisions, it will be possible to place such restrictions on parents and other guardians in cases in which abuse is suspected but not yet officially recognized. This will help prevent centers from falling into trouble with parents.