An official survey has found that 61 percent of respondents view pension and other social security benefit levels as unsustainable, amid a system plagued with fiscal deterioration, the government said in its annual white paper on health, labor and welfare.
"Benefits should be prioritized with stable financial sources secured to make social security systems sustainable," the report, released Tuesday, says.
In a poll conducted by mail in February covering 2,300 people in their 20s to 70s, of whom 58 percent responded, 66 percent identified pensions as being in vital need of reform, followed by 57 percent citing nursing care insurance and 53 percent citing health care insurance. More than one answer was permitted.
Of respondents in their 20s to 50s, more than 70 percent said priority should be on reforming the pension system.
Nearly 80 percent in their 20s to 40s said they expect to receive fewer social security benefits than the contributions they pay. Among all respondents, 51 percent said they view higher contributions as inevitable to maintain benefits at their present levels.