While many people are in need of living due to the effects of the new coronavirus, support groups have sent a request to the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare to review the operation, saying that there are cases where they hesitate to apply for welfare protection because of "support inquiry" to inquire about relatives. I submitted it.
The support group in Tokyo submitted a request for a review of the operation of "Dependent Inquiries" and handed the signatures of about 35,800 people to the person in charge of the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare.
A "dependent inquiry" is an inquiry by the local government to a relative who may be able to receive assistance from the person who applied for welfare protection.
However, many people hesitated to apply for welfare protection because of "support inquiry" such as "I do not want to be known to my family", and support groups have been signing online since last month.
The request form requires the government to conduct a "dependent inquiry" only when the applicant consents and can clearly expect assistance from relatives, and to investigate factors that make it difficult to use welfare protection. I will.
The Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare has reminded local governments that it is inappropriate to explain that "dependent inquiry" is a requirement for livelihood protection.
In addition, at present, it is said that it is not necessary to make a "dependent inquiry" in cases such as not having contacted relatives for more than 20 years, but we are considering how to review it based on the current situation. is.
Tsuyoshi Inaba of the support group "Tsukuroi Tokyo Fund" says, "I want the country to consider how to respond so that the necessary support can be received."
Minister of Health, Labor and Welfare Tamura "Organize and show standards"
Minister of Health, Labor and Welfare Tamura said that in the case where it is not necessary to make a "support inquiry" at the Budget Committee of the House of Representatives, "One criterion that the relationship as a family is broken is" 20 years, no communication ". It's a recognition of an era when telephones aren't easy to use. I'm organizing and considering when family relationships are really broken, so I'd like to show you as soon as possible. "