What is a Death Claim?

If an employee is killed due to a work injury, the injured worker’s survivors are entitled to special workers’ compensation benefits. Survivors include a spouse, children, parents or siblings of the injured worker. These death claim benefits are separate and apart from regular workers’ compensation benefits. The benefits payable to the survivors are up to 51% of the deceased employee’s average weekly wage, but cannot exceed the maximum compensation rate for the year of the death of the employee. However, there are some exceptions to the payment of death claim benefits.