Japan’s Disability Support System and Benefit Eligibility Criteria

Abstract

Japan’s system of support for disabled persons, similar to Korea’s, consists of services provided at various administrative levels, each governed by its respective legal framework. However, a key difference is that while Korea’s system, pursuant to the Act on Welfare of Persons with Disabilities, primarily targets individuals registered as disabled, within the Japanese system, the definition of disability and the eligibility criteria for disability support are determined differently depending on the objectives of each support scheme and the legal framework that underpins it. The variation in selection criteria within Japan’s disability support system underscores the need for discussions that incorporate diverse viewpoints, including those of disabled persons themselves, on whether these criteria are appropriate, and, if so, by what standards, in determining recipients for a given policy or program.