Changing the rules on compensation

October 1, 2013

Compensation to be paid even after evacuation orders lifted

http://ajw.asahi.com/article/0311disaster/fukushima/AJ201310010053

By NORIYOSHI OHTSUKI/ Staff Writer

Residents forced from their homes by the Fukushima nuclear disaster will be eligible to receive compensation for psychological suffering up to a year after evacuation orders are lifted for their hometowns.

This is the first time the government has set such a deadline.

The policy was agreed to Oct. 1 by an evaluation committee for nuclear damage compensation disputes set up under the science ministry.

Evacuees receive 100,000 yen ($1,020) a month in compensation. As it is tax-exempt and paid unconditionally, the payments are vital for evacuees who live in temporary housing or are trying to rebuild their lives elsewhere.

Currently, about 84,000 evacuees receive the compensation. Many depend on the money for monthly living expenses because of reduced means brought about by moving to new areas and inability to find jobs suited to their skills.

However, the move to cut off compensation after a year may be seen as adding to the suffering of evacuees, many of whom would probably not be able to live in their old neighborhoods, even if evacuation orders are lifted. That is, unless business establishments also return to provide employment as well as sell products needed for daily living.

Government surveys have also found that many families with small children will not return home even if the evacuation order for their area is lifted due to concerns about the effects of radiation.

Those factors led members of the evaluation committee to conclude that compensation would have to continue to be paid out even after evacuation orders are lifted because of the difficulties that evacuees would continue to face.

The compensation for psychological suffering would continue for a year regardless of whether the evacuees return to their homes or not. Payments could be extended beyond one year for families that have been separated because of the reactor meltdowns triggered by the 2011 earthquake and tsunami.

Evacuation orders for each area are expected to be lifted after radiation levels are lowered, and services such as water supply and electricity are restored.

Currently, 11 municipalities in Fukushima Prefecture have various levels of evacuation orders in place according to radiation levels in their jurisdictions. There are as yet no municipalities where such orders have been lifted.