"We carried out the necessary revisions in consideration of the fact that permanent residency is the most stable status of residence," Justice Minister Hiroshi Hiraguchi said. The agency has been reviewing the system following research that found permanent residents receive public assistance at roughly the same rate as Japanese nationals. Under the proposed guidelines, applicants would be required to have "economic conditions equal to or above the level of Japanese nationals." The draft would require annual income to be at least equal to the average income of Japanese households. The government also plans to tighten special provisions for spouses of Japanese nationals and others.