Chapter II Principles of Public Assistance

The provision of public assistance shall start based on an application filed by a person requiring public assistance, a person responsible for his/her support or any other relative living together; provided, however, that necessary public assistance may be provided without an application therefore when a person requiring public assistance is under urgent circumstances.

①Public assistance shall be provided, based on the level of the demand of a person requiring public assistance, which has been measured according to the standard specified by the Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare, to the extent that makes up the shortfall thereof that cannot be satisfied by the money or goods possessed by said person.

②The standard set forth in the preceding paragraph shall be one that sufficiently satisfies but shall not exceed the demand pertaining to a minimum standard of living, taking into consideration the age, sex, household composition and location of the person requiring public assistance and any other necessary circumstances according to the type of public assistance.

Public assistance shall be provided effectively and appropriately by taking into consideration the differences between the actual needs of individuals or households, such as the age, sex and health conditions of the person requiring assistance.

The need for and extent of public assistance shall be determined on a household basis ; provided, however, that, if this is difficult, such determination may be made on an individual basis.