Record number of households on welfare in July

A record number of households in Japan, almost 1.4 million, were receiving welfare benefits in July.

The labor and welfare ministry says the number marks an increase of nearly 12,000 from the previous month.

Among the recipients, 2,666 were elderly people, 1,204 were single mothers, and 1,084 were disabled people.

The largest percentage of recipient households, numbering 4,429, included the unemployed.

Due to the worsening job situation, the number of households on welfare has risen by 11 percent in the past 12 months with an additional 145 thousand recipients.

The number of individuals on welfare in July also increased by about 17,000 to more than 1.9 million from the previous month.

The ministry says it will focus on helping the unemployed find jobs.