|
|
Pension Agency to Go After Deadbeats
The Asahi Shimbun
September 21, 2004
It's payback time for 30,000 delinquents. Some could even lose their passports.
The Social Insurance Agency plans to kick off a nationwide manhunt in October for deadbeats who don't pay their pension premiums, and is even toying with the idea of prohibiting main offenders from acquiring driver's licenses and passports.
The agency says it will call on local authorities to provide income statements on about 50,000 delinquents and will treat 30,000 of those deemed most capable of paying the premiums to a bit of bureaucratic arm-twisting.
The agency's first comprehensive round of compulsory collection last fiscal year resulted in 60 percent of the 10,000 people squeezed paying up.
Many people shirking pension payments are those who have withdrawn from corporate pension plans after quitting or being let go but choose not to join the national pension program as is legally required.
With the number of such people rising, the agency says it will take measures to compel them to join from fiscal 2005.
The agency also said it will order companies of a certain size to join corporate pension plans.
In addition to announcing its intention to consider suspending passports and driver's licenses, the agency will from February issue payment certificates to members of the national pension plan for income tax purposes.
Office hours for consultations at the agency will be extended on Mondays this fiscal year, with some branches to stay open on Saturdays and Sundays.
Consultations by fax for disabled people will also be offered, as will information about pensions for individuals online.
Another option will be consultations by appointment.
From fiscal 2005, people about to become eligible for pension payments will be mailed application forms to request the start of such benefits.
|
|
