Wednesday, Dec. 7, 2011

Almost 2.06 million people were living on welfare benefits as of August, marking an all-time high for the second straight month, the welfare ministry said Tuesday in a preliminary report.

The precise total, 2,059,871, represented a rise of 9,376 from the previous high marked in July, when the record dating back to 1951 was broken.

Officials at the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry said the number of welfare recipients could continue to increase due to the aging of the population, the impact of the March 11 earthquake and tsunami, and the economic crisis in Europe.

The number of households, as opposed to individuals, receiving welfare benefits also marked a record high, totaling 1.49 million, up 6,889 from July, the report says.

Separately from the monthly report, 34 households affected by the March disasters and Fukushima nuclear crisis began to receive welfare benefits in October, bringing the total number of such households since March to 974, the ministry said.

Elder abuse on the rise

Confirmed cases of abuse of seniors by relatives rose to a record 16,668 in fiscal 2010, up 6.7 percent from the previous year, the welfare ministry said Tuesday.

The number of cases of abuse by caregivers at nursing homes and other facilities — 96 — likewise hit a record and represented a 26.3 percent in fiscal 2009, according to the ministry's survey, which tallied data from municipalities nationwide.

We welcome your opinions. Click to send a message to the editor.