Given the lessons learned from the confusion that arose around online applications for the special fixed-sum cash benefits, the government needs to do all it can to avoid a repeat.
Applications are being accepted for the government's My Number Points program in which holders of My Number cards can receive up to 5,000 yen worth of points.
During the seven-month period from September this year to March of next year, making cashless payments such as with credit cards or e-money services registered with the program will yield points worth 25% of the purchase. By spending 20,000 yen overall, a user receives points worth the maximum of 5,000 yen.
One of the purposes of the program is to continue to support consumption after the reward points system introduced following the consumption tax rate hike ends in June. It is also meant to support household economies in the wake of the novel coronavirus crisis and to promote cashless payments.
What should be noted is that the acquisition of a My Number card is a prerequisite for receiving the points. The move is aimed at promoting the card, but it cannot be denied that the procedure has become complicated.
It usually takes about one month for the card to be issued after the application is made. Applications can be made on a personal computer or smartphone, but one has to visit a local government counter to receive it.
After obtaining the card, an applicant uses their computer, smartphone or a convenience store terminal to create an ID and become eligible to receive points. At this point, the user is requested to enter the PIN number for the card. They also have to choose which payment service to use in the program.
When applying online for the the special fixed-sum cash benefits of 100,000, yen those who forgot their PIN numbers for their My Number cards rushed to local government counters, causing confusion.
In the new program too, the call center cannot be accessed to make inquires. It is essential for the central government to further strengthen its support for local governments and its management system.
Many local governments have set up counters to support people who do not have personal computers or who are not familiar with using them. It is hoped that the central and local governments will thoroughly inform the public of the program's structure and points of caution so that everyone can proceed with the procedures smoothly.
Only about 22 million cards have been issued in the My Number system, which started in 2016. The government estimates that about 40 million people will use the points program, but it is unclear whether the number of cardholders will increase significantly.
The spread of the My Number system is certainly important. But hasn't increasing the number of cardholders become the purpose of system? The main task is to have people feel the card's convenience has improved by expanding its range of uses.
-- The original Japanese article appeared in The Yomiuri Shimbun on July 8, 2020.
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