I don't want to be known only to my daughter ... January 22, 21:30

I don't know what to do because I have run out of work due to the corona sickness and my money has run out.

Those who ask for help from support groups say they never thought they would be driven this far.

And "I don't want to receive only life protection."

This is the most heard word through this interview.

What I could see was the existence of a certain procedure performed by the government, which was a wall.

(Metropolitan area bureau reporter Naohiro Togano / News Watch 9 director Hideyuki Fukudome)

Losing a house in New Year's Eve

"I haven't had such a difficult year. I can't say anything, it's New

Year's

Eve."

December 31, last year ・ Omisoka, a man in his 60s living in Tokyo, was packing one person to move out of his apartment room. It was.

I had been working for a security company since March last year, but was dismissed in December and had to leave the dormitory apartment that the company had rented by this day.

The room is about 6 tatami mats in size, and the luggage is 4 cardboard boxes, 2 bags, and almost no household appliances.

A man in his 60s

"I felt that there was no place to live and no one really helped me. I wondered why, I asked myself dozens of times every day."

"No way I am ..." A life free from poverty

Before working for a security company, men had been involved in video production and other work as freelancers for about 30 years.

As a producer of commercial films and TV dramas, I was proud to have created works that would reach many people.

Unlike office workers, I didn't have any troubles in my life every month, although my income was not stable.

However, due to the influence of the new coronavirus, my work decreased sharply from around February last year, and I started working at a security company.

After a few months, he said he had a job once a month.

Last month, the 200,000 yen of emergency small-lot funds that the government lent out for the time being and the savings that were withdrawn were almost gone.

A man in his 60s

"I'm unstable because I think it suits my abilities to compete as a freelancer instead of working like a salaryman, but I've been doing that kind of work. I didn't do that, and I feel that I might have to think about life and death in the future. "

Possession money 722 yen ... Still, the reason for not applying for welfare

The man consulted with the window in Tokyo.

And until March, we will be able to stay at a business hotel that Tokyo has prepared as a temporary accommodation to help those who have lost their homes.

However, it is said that the prospect of work is still uncertain.

When I visited a man on January 4, the new year, the balance was 722 yen.

A person in charge of the local government told me to apply for welfare, but he refused.

A man in his 60s

"I'm guilty of welfare. I've lived a normal life so far, so I can't give up my way of life."

The man raised political and institutional issues and continued to talk for over an hour why he did not apply for welfare.

And at the end of the interview, he showed me a photo saved on my smartphone.

A man in his 60s

"You're a cute

girl,

haven't you seen him for two and a half years?"

I felt like I saw a man's soft facial expression for the first time.

The sunny appearance of my daughter who lives away was reflected there.

When you apply for welfare, the government may make a "dependent inquiry" to contact your relatives directly.

As a parent, the man said he wanted to avoid inquiring about his daughter's support, staring at his smartphone.

A man in his 60s

"I don't want my daughter to know what's going on, I don't want to be anxious, I don't want to make her sad. Actually, that's the biggest reason why I don't get welfare. I want to meet as soon as possible when I become myself who can show such a figure by creating a living foundation for me. That is the purpose of living now. "

For the time being, men will use a system that allows them to borrow living expenses from the country.

What is "Dependent Inquiry"?

"Dependent inquiry" asks the person who applied for livelihood protection about the financial situation of the relatives, and if it judges that there is a possibility of receiving assistance, it directly notifies the relatives. Is to inquire.

According to the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, the Public Assistance Act has a provision that the "duty of support" within the third degree of kinship stipulated by the Civil Code has priority, so it is said to be enforced.

The Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare has notified the local government that if the spouse has been domestic violence or abused, has not been in contact for more than 20 years, and the relatives are generally 70 years old or older, it is not necessary to make a dependent inquiry. I will.

When asked about the need for dependent inquiries from a person in charge of the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, "There is a principle that people who have difficulty living do everything they can and still apply welfare protection only when it is difficult to become independent, which is a law. It will be the part related to the basis of. "

The Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare has sent a message on its website saying, "Applying for livelihood protection is the right of the people. Anyone may need livelihood protection, so please do not hesitate to contact us." I will.

"I hate being known to my family"

How is the "Dependent Inquiry" received?

The Tsukuroi Tokyo Fund, which provided meals and consultation support in Tokyo during the year-end and New Year holidays, conducted a questionnaire survey of the people who consulted and received 165 responses.

According to the group, many of the people who consulted were in need of living.

However, 37 people (22.4%) received welfare protection, and 106 people (64.2%) had never used welfare protection.

Of the 128 people who are not currently on welfare, 44 (34.4%) said they don't like being known to their families.

The group started collecting signatures on the Internet from this month, saying that the operation of dependent inquiries should be kept to a minimum.

We will submit the signature and request form gathered at the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare in February.

Tsuyoshi Inaba, Tsuyoshi Inaba,

"

Tsuyoshi Tokyo Fund

" At the end of the year, when support was exhausted, there were many people who said that they didn't like welfare even though they had exceeded their limits. Especially, "Dependent Inquiries" was big. It's a wall, and some local governments try to give up by saying, "I'll contact my family when I apply." Dependent inquiries were prehistoric and are now almost ineffective. I think that the mechanism itself should be eliminated, but as the number of people in need increases due to the corona disaster, it is a matter of time. First of all, it should be limited to cases where the applicant consents in advance and apparently dependents are expected. "

"I'm worried about the cold eyes of the world ..."

Some people are at the last minute of their lives because they feel embarrassed to receive welfare protection and cannot consult with the government.

This man in his 40s has been working as a temporary worker or part-time worker for more than 20 years since he moved to Tokyo from Nagano prefecture.

However, due to the influence of the new coronavirus, he has almost lost his job since last spring.

A man in his 40s

"I think I shouldn't get welfare because I can work in good health and I'm young, and I'm embarrassed that I don't have any income. When I get welfare, the world I'm worried about being seen with cold eyes and I'm sorry for my parents ... "

Soup kitchen and sugar

Men do not want to receive welfare, so since March last year, they have been attending the soup kitchens held every Saturday by support groups in Ikebukuro, Tokyo.

When I was shown the household account book with the receipts pasted on top of each other, I found that I bought 15 bags of "sugar" a day at a discount store.

A man in his 40s

"I lined up 15 times to save even one yen on consumption tax, so I was laughed at by the cashier's aunt. But at the very least, if I save sugar, my head will work ..."

From June of last year, I was able to get a total of 500,000 yen, including 400,000 yen, which was paid through computer training in the national education and training, and 100,000 yen, which is a special fixed amount benefit.

I did job hunting and applied for interviews at about 10 companies, but I wasn't hired and I've been living with my savings.

Decided to apply for "living protection", but ...

The man had never consulted with a support group when he visited the soup kitchen, but he was approached by a support group staff when he provided food on the 31st of last month.

And I was advised to apply for welfare.

The man tried to refuse, "I don't want my parents to know," but he was persuaded that he might not be referred to his dependents, so he went to the Toshima Ward Office with the staff of the support group for consultation.

Ward office staff

"Do you have any savings?"

Male in his 40s

"If you pay 50,000 yen next month, you will run out."

Ward office staff

"How old are your parents?"

Male in

your

40s

"I'm in my 80s. I don't want to get in touch with you. ”

Ward office staff

“ If you are in your 80s and live on a pension, don't worry because you can't support them, so don't worry. ”

If so, I decided to apply for welfare.

The ward office contacted me saying, "I will still inquire about dependents."

However, a week later, I received an email from a reporter saying, "I have given up on welfare."

He said that he decided to cancel the application because the ward office contacted him, saying, "After all, I will make a dependent inquiry to another relative such as my brother."

The man said, "I can only spend 20,000 yen in January because of the rent."

At a later date, the New Year's card sent to me was written in polite letters, "I will manage to avoid becoming homeless."

The issue of "living protection" becomes apparent due to the corona disaster

The person in charge of the support group interviewed this time said, "The problem of poverty buried in society due to the corona wreckage has become apparent."

The issues surrounding welfare have been pointed out so far, but as I continued to interview, I strongly felt that it is time to discuss the reality of not reaching people who really need support.

We would like to continue interviewing based on your voice.

We welcome your opinions and information.

News post

Metropolitan area bureau reporter

Naohiro Togano

Joined in 2010.

Extensive coverage of poverty, education, and minority issues.

News Watch 9 Director

Hideyuki Fukudome

After working on NHK's "General Medical Doctor G" and commercial broadcasters, he became News Watch 9 from April last year.

A wide range of coverage focusing on issues related to poverty and human life.