Living and Employment Situations of Disability Pensioners

Abstract

This paper first confirms the living and employment situations of disability pensioners using data from the “Survey on the Situation of Disability Pensioners” conducted by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare. Second, a multivariable regression analysis is conducted on the employment situations of pensioners with disabilities. The major findings are as follows : ⑴ many disability pensioners with mental disorders receive lower pensions and incomes, resulting in low household incomes, and many of them receive public assistance benefits in addition to disability pensions ; ⑵ the rate of living with parents and/or siblings is higher for pensioners with intellectual disabilities, but their living and employment situations are similar to those with mental disorders ; ⑶ with regard to pensioners with physical disabilities, the larger the pension, the larger the income, which widens the gap in living situations among pensioners ; ⑷ pensioners with mental disorders who receive the Disability Employees’ Pension （Grade 3） are most likely to be assigned to the category of economically disadvantaged ; and ⑸ although female disability pensioners receive smaller pensions and income from work than male disability pensioners, no significant difference between the two has been found in terms of household income and receiving public assistance benefits.