TOKYO, Aug. 6 (Xinhua) -- Japan received 23,028 applications for livelihood protection in May, marking a 3.9-percent decrease compared to the same month last year, official data showed Wednesday.
The data marked the second-highest figure for May in the past decade, according to the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare.
Although applications declined for the second consecutive month year-on-year, ministry officials noted that the level remains historically high.
In the same month, 19,922 households began receiving welfare benefits, a 4.7-percent decrease from May 2024. The total number of households on welfare stood at 1,645,756, down 0.4 percent from the previous year.
The ministry said that although application numbers are slightly down, it is still necessary to closely monitor trends while ensuring that those in need receive timely support. ■
