The government on Tuesday announced it would allow local governments to use special subsidies for regional revitalization to cover the cost of providing the uniform 100,000 yen benefit to newborn babies.
As a financial measure against the spread of the novel coronavirus, the government has been providing the 100,000 yen cash payment across the board. However, only those recorded on the basic resident register before April 27 were eligible for the benefit.
Hence, babies born after the April 27 cutoff date, were excluded from the program.
On the other hand, an increasing number of local governments have been extending the cutoff date and providing the benefit on their own.
The government, hoping to provide further aid against the pandemic, has decided to allow local governments to use a total of 3 trillion yen in special subsidies, which are included in the first and second supplementary budgets for fiscal 2020. The cutoff date and benefit amount will be decided by each local government.
At a press conference on Tuesday, Seiichi Eto, Minister for Measures for Declining Birthrate, said the government would soon issue a notice to local governments. "We will promptly coordinate with relevant ministries and agencies," Eto said.
Yomiuri Shimbun file photo
A newborn baby, held by her mother, is seen through the window of an obstetrics and gynecology clinic, in Satte, Saitama Prefecture, in May.
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