UPDATE: GM Ignition-Switch Fund Raises Eligible Death Claims to 50

The General Motors Co. fund set up last August to compensate victims of the company's defective ignition switches has raised the number of eligible death claims by five to 50.

The fund, which is managed by disaster claims expert Kenneth Feinberg, is accepting applications through the end of January. GM originally attributed 13 fatalities to the switches, which can be jogged into turning off the engine along with the vehicle's power steering, power brakes and airbag system.

The fund has received more than 2,800 claims of death or injuries. It has rejected 58 death claims and continues to assess the others. The program also has declared 75 claims of injury eligible for compensation.