社会保障給付費、１３２兆円　２０年度、コロナ影響で最高更新―厚労省

　厚生労働省の国立社会保障・人口問題研究所は３０日、２０２０年度に年金、医療、介護などに充てられた社会保障給付費が前年度比６．７％増の１３２兆２２１１億円だったと発表した。伸び率は１９９５年度以来の高い水準。高齢化の進展に加え、新型コロナウイルスの感染拡大に伴う補助金や給付金も膨らみ、過去最高を更新した。
　社会保障給付費は社会保険料や税金から年金や医療などに充てられた費用の総額で、病院の窓口で支払う自己負担は含まない。統計を取り始めた５０年度以来一貫して伸び続けている。（2022/08/30-17:47）

Social security benefit costs in Japan in fiscal 2020 grew 6.7 pct from the preceding year to a record 132,221.1 billion yen, a welfare ministry-affiliated think tank said Tuesday.
   The growth was the steepest since fiscal 1995, reflecting expenses related to the COVID-19 pandemic, in addition to the graying of the country's population, according to the National Institute of Population and Social Security Research.
   The total amount, including pension, medical and other costs covered with tax revenues and social security insurance premiums but excluding payments by individuals at hospitals, has continued to expand since the statistics started in fiscal 1950.
   Of the fiscal 2020 total, pensions increased 0.3 pct to 55,633.6 billion yen, accounting for the largest share, while medical costs jumped 4.9 pct to 42,719.3 billion yen, lifted by pandemic-linked benefits.
   Child-rearing, nursing care and other welfare benefits swelled 22.1 pct to 33,868.2 billion yen, due partly to the employment adjustment subsidy program introduced as part of efforts to tackle the pandemic.