TOKYO, Nov. 5 (Xinhua) -- The number of welfare applications filed nationwide in Japan reached 20,703 in August, a 3.1-percent decrease from the same month last year, data from the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare showed Wednesday.
Despite the decline, it marked the third-highest August total in the past ten years, indicating continued economic strain on vulnerable households as inflation persisted.
The number of newly approved recipient households was 16,723, down 7.3 percent year-on-year, while the total number of welfare-recipient households stood at 1,645,123, a 0.4-percent decrease.
The ministry said it would continue monitoring trends closely and ensure that assistance is promptly provided to those in need.
