How lost family support is valued

Loss of support is valued by looking at what the deceased actually earned, then working out what the family would reasonably have received from it, not by any fixed table.^[1] The court deducts what the deceased would have spent on their own living costs, and applies a multiplier to the remainder. How a dependency claim works covers the wider claim this calculation sits within.

The three steps a court generally follows

• Estimate the deceased’s income at the time of death.
• Deduct a reasonable amount for what the deceased would have spent on themselves.^[2]
• Apply a multiplier reflecting the years of support that were lost.

The “one-third” figure people often mention

A deduction of around a third for the deceased’s own living expenses is commonly applied in practice, though this is described as a practice rather than a strict rule the court must follow in every case.^[2] The actual deduction depends on the family’s real circumstances.

What does not reduce the family’s award

Money already received through insurance, EPF (Employees Provident Fund) or a pension is generally not deducted from a dependency award.^[3] Families should not hold back from claiming because of it.

Why no figure appears on this page

The deceased’s income, their living costs and the multiplier all depend on the family. A number given without that evidence would not reflect your situation.

What to do next

Gather payslips, bank records, EPF statements or business records showing what the deceased earned, and how that income supported the family. Who can claim after a death sets out which family members are covered. Making a claim after a fatal accident covers the wider process. What the estate itself can recover is separate, at estate versus dependency.

An independent lawyer can act for the family in the claim. Send the accident date, where it happened, who relied on the person who died, and the police report status.