 Pensioners protests at government agency over pension cuts increase Under the new tax code, low-income pensioners are forced to pay income tax. The Social Services Agency in February notified certain pension recipients of reductions in benefits. Since then, the Agency has received many complaints as well as inquiries from pensioners, flooding their phone lines. About 5 million people have been are affected by the tax increase. The total number of those whose pension benefits are taxed at the source is about 930,000. A couple in their seventies and eighties living in Fuchu City, Tokyo, receive 270,000 yen in pension benefits each month, but about 10,000 yen for two months will be deducted as income tax and for nursing care insurance premiums. For them to pay the income tax means that they will probably also have to pay residential taxes next year as an additional burden. (end) |