Key Facts
• June 2025: Supreme Court ruled welfare reduction from 2013 as illegal.
• One month later, Ministry of Health has not announced a response plan.
• Municipalities, responsible for 25% of welfare costs, face financial uncertainty.
• Document retention periods vary by municipality, ranging from 1 to 10 years.
• Osaka City has over 100,000 welfare-receiving households, the highest in Japan.
• Ministry planned expert panel meetings in July but failed to convene them.
• Experts declined participation due to high public scrutiny and responsibility.
• Ministry aims to hold the first meeting by August 2025.
Summary
The Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare has yet to respond to the June 2025 Supreme Court ruling that deemed the 2013 welfare reduction illegal. This delay leaves municipalities, which bear 25% of welfare costs, in financial limbo. Document retention issues further complicate the situation, as many records may no longer exist. Osaka City, with over 100,000 welfare-receiving households, highlights the urgency of a resolution. Despite plans to convene an expert panel in July, the Ministry has faced challenges in securing participants due to the case’s high public profile. Officials now aim to hold the first meeting by August 2025, but uncertainty persists.
