Welfare Applications Drop 3 Months In A Row
Japan's welfare ministry says the number of applications for welfare in July was down by 11.1 percent from July last year. It dropped by 2,463 to 19,650.
The month of June also saw a decline of 786, and applications in May dipped by 1,929 from the previous year.
Ministry officials say that the cash hand-out of 100,000 yen, or more than 900 dollars, for all people in Japan earlier this year amid the coronavirus outbreak and an emergency small loan program must have helped the needy.
But the officials say as the pandemic and its ramifications seem likely to continue, people may use up their savings and the number of people in need of help is expected to increase.
They say that the number of welfare applications could rise in the near future.
