Texas Administrative Code
Title 28 - INSURANCE
Part 2 - TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF INSURANCE, DIVISION OF WORKERS' COMPENSATION
Chapter 132 - DEATH BENEFITS-DEATH AND BURIAL BENEFITS
Section 132.2 - Determination of Facts of Dependent Status
Current through Reg. 49, No. 38; September 20, 2024
(a) This section applies to a person who claims death benefits as a dependent of the deceased employee.
(b) A benefit which flowed from a deceased employee, at the time of death, on an established basis in at least monthly intervals to the person claiming to be dependent, is presumed to be a regular or recurring economic benefit. This presumption may be overcome by credible evidence. The burden is on the claimant to prove that benefits, which flowed less frequently than once a month, were regular or recurring at the time of the employee's death.
(c) It shall be presumed that an economic benefit, whose value was equal to or greater than 20% of the person's net resources in the period (see subsection (d) of this section) for which the benefit was paid, is an economic benefit which contributed substantially to the person's welfare and livelihood. This presumption may be overcome by credible evidence. The burden is on the claimant to prove that benefits whose value was less than 20% of the person's net resources contributed significantly to the person's welfare and livelihood.
(d) Net resources for the purpose of subsection (b) of this section are 100% of all wage and salary income and all other income including nonpecuniary income and all income of the individual's spouse, less 100% of social security taxes and federal income tax withholding.
(e) The person claiming to be a dependent shall furnish sufficient information to enable the commission to accurately identify the net resources and to establish the existence of the economic benefit claimed. This information may include, but is not limited to, tax returns, a financial statement of the individual, and check stubs.
(f) If an economic benefit was provided in the form of goods and services, the value shall be the market value of the same or similar goods and services in the same vicinity.
