The number of applications for public assistance in Japan reached 255,897 in 2024, according to preliminary figures. This marks the fifth consecutive annual rise and is the highest number since the current survey method was introduced in 2013.
Poverty among elderly people living on their own is becoming an increasingly serious social issue. Strengthening the safety net has become an urgent matter.
Elderly people living solo make up more than half of all households receiving public assistance in the country.
Those who dwell alone have to pay higher living costs, such as rent and utilities, compared to those living together with family. As people age, their income decreases, and the risks of illness and injury increase. If such individuals have little savings, they are prone to fall into economic hardship.
The percentage of single-person households has increased from 32% in 2010 to 38% in 2020. This trend is due in part to the rising number of unmarried individuals, and the number of people living alone is expected to continue rising in the future.
Furthermore, the “employment ice age” generation, referring to people who graduated school and began job hunting between around 1993 and 2004 but entered an unstable employment environment, will start turning 65 in the mid-2030s. Many in this group are expected to receive insufficient pensions as they were often employed in nonregular jobs during their working years and their income was low.
If measures aren’t taken, the number of people who have no choice but to rely on public assistance could rise even further.
In response, the Japanese government aims to submit a pension system reform proposal to the National Diet, with measures to counter low pensions being one of its core pillars. Although the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) has strong reservations due to concerns about the increasing burdens on the public, revising the system is essential to support low-income elderly people. Postponing the reform is not an option.
Securing housing to live in peace is another task the country faces.
Due to the recent price hikes, rents have risen alongside essential goods. The low-income group is particularly affected by this.
According to a national survey, the homeownership rate among the “employment ice age” generation is lower than that of older generations.
In the future, more elderly people are expected to rely on rental housing. However, many landlords refuse to rent to them over concerns including the issue of solitary deaths.
The government has implemented measures to make it easier for elderly people to move into housing, for example by utilizing monitoring services. Collaborative efforts between the public and private sectors are needed to improve the effectiveness of these measures.
To ensure that everyone can live their later years without anxiety, it is crucial to implement detailed measures to address various risks based on predictions of what people may face in their daily lives.
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