Sixty households in Japan's Okunoto region, severely affected by the January 2024 Noto Peninsula earthquake, have had their welfare benefits terminated mainly due to income from donations. Local welfare offices determined that these households possess assets exceeding the level needed to cover minimum living expenses under the welfare system. The decision has prompted calls against terminating benefits for this reason, as donated funds are essential for quake victims rebuilding their lives.
The magnitude 7.6 Noto Peninsula earthquake that struck on January 1, 2024, devastated the Okunoto region in central Japan, part of Ishikawa Prefecture. By the end of November 2025, welfare benefits for 60 households in this area were terminated, with 36 in Wajima City, 14 in Anamizu Town, eight in Noto Town, and two in Suzu City. The primary reason was income from donations received by quake victims, sources said on Sunday.
Local welfare offices assessed that these households held assets, including donations, surpassing the threshold required to qualify for benefits under the system guaranteeing minimum living expenses. The earthquake heavily damaged four Okunoto municipalities, leaving many residents struggling to recover.
This judgment has ignited criticism, as donations play a crucial role in helping victims rebuild amid destroyed homes and lost livelihoods. Calls have emerged urging authorities not to end welfare support on such grounds, arguing that it undermines the welfare system's purpose of aiding the vulnerable. While the terminations aim to ensure fair distribution of public funds, they highlight tensions between asset rules and disaster recovery needs. Policymakers may need to revisit guidelines to better accommodate quake survivors' circumstances.
