The government is mulling increasing the child allowance for households with multiple children, according to sources.
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has vowed to implement "unprecedented measures to deal with the declining birth rate." An outline of the government's policy will be compiled by the end of this month. In addition to increasing the child allowance for households with multiple children, the government is also considering removing the income limit and extending the eligibility period for the allowance.
Currently, families with children up to junior high school age can receive the benefit. The government is thinking about extending the allowance for children through high school.
In a draft of the policy outline, the allowance is positioned as "basic financial support for the upbringing of all children who will be responsible for the next generation." According to the document, the government will consider systems in other countries when reviewing the current framework.
The draft also includes a proposal to eliminate the income limit for the child allowance, which has been a focus of discussions. However, some ministers, including Health, Labor and Welfare Minister Katsunobu Kato, have expressed caution about such a move, so it is not clear whether the measure will be implemented. The draft does not include specific details such as when the new policy will start or the amount of the increase.
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