Tsunami - establishing death

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has now issued guidance to decision makers on dealing with claims in respect of those lost in the disaster.

Those affected could claim a number of benefits, for example, bereavement benefits, income support, pension credit or incapacity benefit depending on the circumstances.

The main question will be whether death has been established. The guidance advises decision makers to look at all the evidence and consider whether death can be established on the balance of probabilities. It says that it may reasonably be presumed that people died in the disaster if they had travelled to the affected region, were there at the time of the disaster, have not been heard of or from since and are not receiving care in the area. Where death is established or presumed, it should be accepted as having occurred on 26 December 2004.

The full guidance is on the DWP website at www.dwp.gov.uk/publications/dwp/dmg

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