TOKYO, May 7 (Xinhua) -- The number of applications for public assistance across Japan rose to 19,078 in February, marking a 3.6-percent increase compared to the same month last year, official data showed Wednesday.
This marks the second consecutive month that applications have exceeded year-on-year figures.
According to the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, the number of new recipients who began receiving welfare benefits in February was 17,527 households, up 3.6 percent or 616 households from February 2024.
Meanwhile, the total number of households receiving welfare as of the end of February stood at 1,646,229.
The ministry noted that this year's February application figure is the second highest for the month over the past decade, citing factors such as the increase in single-person households. ■
