Returned to sender: 472,000 cash handouts

As of June 26, 471,567 applications for the government's pump-priming cash handout program had been returned to municipalities, the Internal Affairs and Communications Ministry said Friday, citing incorrect addresses for the failed deliveries.

The ministry said it will step up its publicity efforts to call on households that have not received the cash benefits of up to ¥20,000 per person to file their applications.

Meanwhile, a survey showed 86.0 percent of households in 1,798 cities, towns and other municipalities across the country have received the cash handouts, which totaled ¥1.7726 trillion as of June 26.

The municipalities began providing the cash benefits in March to cover about 54.8 million households under the government's economic stimulus plan.

Of the applications sent back, 73,000 were sent to foreigners, many of whom failed to provide moving notices to municipalities in urban and other areas.

The households will lose their right to receive the cash handouts unless they file applications within six months of the date when municipalities began accepting applications.