The Livelihood Subsidies System is available to anyone who is unable to work as a result of illness or injury, or to anyone who has lost their job or cannot find one no matter how hard they try and are having difficulty paying living and medical expenses. Through this system the government guarantees the minimal level of a healthy and civilized livelihood to any person in financial difficulty regardless of the cause.
This system is available to anyone whose income is below the standard decided on by the government. When an application is made, the applicant will be requested to fully utilize not only his/her resources but also those of family members, including savings, real estate, valuable objects as well as their ability to work. However, this does not mean that items required for one’s livelihood must be disposed of, nor does it mean that an application will be rejected if one has a little in savings. Neither is it necessary for a person to risk their health in order to work. This system is applicable to those who have the ability to work but are unable to find a job no matter how hard they try. When the applicant can get assistance from relatives or other sources, these sources will be given priority and only when the total assistance is still below the standard amount will the system provide the difference.
Applications for use of this system should be made at the Welfare Office that covers the district where the applicant’s residence is located.
The following are examples of the livelihood subsidies standards set by Kobe City.
a. A 50-year-old living alone - living expenses allowance ¥82,520, actual rent allowance limit ¥41,800. A 70-year-old living alone - living expenses allowance ¥94,690
b. A household of three persons (42-year-old father, 40-year-old mother, child in second grade of middle school) - living expenses allowance ¥177,724, actual rent allowance limit ¥54,200 and educational allowance ¥4,800.
In all cases medical care can be obtained free of charge. There may be differences in the amount of subsidies paid depending on the location of the applicant’s residence. For further details, contact your local Welfare Office. If you do not understand Japanese, contact the nearest counseling service for foreigners where interpreters are available.