Indian-origin man declared dead in UK in error

Madan Lal Kosla then had to report to a job centre with his own passport in order to prove he was still alive.

“What if I had been away and someone else had opened that letter.

 They would think I’m dead,” the 83-year-old said. Manchester City Council had cancelled Kosla’s council tax support payments, offered to the elderly, and wrote to his wife in order to offer their condolences.

The letter read: “I am sorry to hear of your partner’s death on the May 18. Please accept my condolences. I am sorry to write to you at this difficult time but as the claim for council tax support was in your partner’s name I have cancelled payments from May 18th”.  

The council claimed the error occurred due to the UK’s Department for Work and Pensions.