The ruling Liberal Democratic Party and its coalition partner agreed Tuesday on a measure to distribute cash and vouchers each worth ¥50,000 to people aged 18 and younger to address the economic fallout from the coronavirus pandemic.
LDP Secretary-General Toshimitsu Motegi and his Komeito counterpart Keiichi Ishii agreed to quickly hand out the cash and then provide the vouchers toward spring, but they failed to agree on whether to introduce an income cap for those who are eligible to receive the benefits, party officials said.
While the LDP wants a ¥9.6 million annual income cap for recipient households so as to provide the benefits for those in need, Komeito has proposed providing the benefits to everyone age 18 or younger.