Have you lost a spouse, parent or another person who supported you?
Nothing can replace the loss of someone you love. Dependency compensation is intended to reduce the financial consequences of losing a person who supported you.
What is dependency compensation?
Dependency compensation is compensation for the loss of a provider as a result of death. A provider is someone who contributed financially or carried out care or household work for you. This is often a spouse, partner or parent, but may also be a sibling, relative, friend, foster child or others. A key requirement is that the person actually supported you before their death.
In many cases, the death and resulting loss of support arise from a traffic accident, a workplace injury, or medical treatment. If you have lost a provider, you may be entitled to compensation for the financial loss caused by the death. You must be able to prove that you were supported by the deceased. Our lawyers can help you with this.
What are you entitled to in dependency compensation?
Dependency compensation is not intended to compensate for the emotional loss of a family member. Its purpose is to reduce the financial consequences that may follow from the loss. The amount of compensation is assessed individually for each dependent who has lost a provider, which is why it is important to seek help from someone with experience in calculating such claims.
Who is entitled to dependency compensation?
To be awarded dependency compensation, you must have been wholly or partly supported by the deceased at the time of death. This means that the deceased must have contributed financially or through household or care work when they passed away. Those who could reasonably have expected future support — such as unborn children who lose their provider — may also be entitled to dependency compensation.
Children under the age of 19 are entitled to their own dependency compensation when a provider passes away. The amount of compensation depends on the child’s age, as compensation normally ceases when the child reaches 19.
Funeral expenses in dependency claims
In cases of loss of a provider, documented expenses related to the funeral, memorial service and headstone are covered. Any extraordinary circumstances surrounding the ceremony are assessed on a case‑by‑case basis.
Should I contact a lawyer if I believe I am entitled to dependency compensation?
Several factors affect the compensation, and the calculation process is complex. We therefore recommend that you contact us to clarify the circumstances of your case. Reasonable and necessary legal costs are usually covered by insurance.
