Japan Press Weekly

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2013 November 13 - 19 [WELFARE]

City accepts court decision nullifying its refusal of couple’s welfare benefit application

Kishiwada City on November 14 announced its decision to not appeal the Osaka District Court’s ruling that the city’s refusal to accept an application from a couple for welfare benefits was illegal. The judgment was finalized.

The plaintiffs are a 41-year-old man and his wife, 48, living in Kishiwada City, Osaka Prefecture. The husband used to make his living by taking part time jobs despite difficulties in finding jobs because of his lower secondary education level and because he didn’t have a driver’s license. He lost his main job when he was in his late 30s. Sinking into dire poverty, he visited the Kishiwada City government to apply for welfare benefits. The city office, however, turned it down saying that he is still young and in good health so he had plenty of opportunities available for employment. He had only 300 yen to his name at that time. Though the plaintiff submitted an application for livelihood protection payment four times after that, all his applications were dismissed for the same reason.

The court ruling pointed out that in assessing the employability of welfare applicants, the city office should take into account not only their age and health condition, but also the work experiences and job qualifications they possess. The judgment stressed that it was inappropriate for the city to assume the plaintiff, who was not able to buy even the paper needed for job applications, was discouraged from seeking employment, and ruled that the city’s dismissal of his application was illegal.

Handa Midori, who heads the counsel for the plaintiff, criticized the city’s past refusals of their applications for support, saying that to condemn the poverty-stricken applicants for lack of enthusiasm in finding jobs may push them into committing suicide. She urged the city government to change its cold-hearted attitude.

The couple and their supporters on November 14 in front of the city office building called on city government officials to establish a meaningful livelihood protection system.

Past related article
> Court finds city illegally turned down applications for welfare benefits of Osaka couple [November 1, 2013]