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HomeGovernment CodeDiv. 5Pt. 3Ch. 14Art. 2§ 21544 Special Death Benefit Payments

§ 21544 Special Death Benefit Payments

Government Code·California
AI Summary·Official Text·Key Terms·Related Statutes·References
AI SummaryVerified

§ 21544 Special Death Benefit Payments

Key Takeaways

  • •If someone dies at work, their family might get special money to help them.
  • •The government will first check if the death happened because of work.
  • •While they check, the family gets temporary money to help right away.
  • •If they find out the death wasn’t because of work, the family has to pay back the temporary money from other benefits.

Example

A construction worker falls from a ladder at work and dies. His wife and kids are left without his paycheck.

The government will give the family some money right away while they check if the death happened because of work. If they decide it did, the family keeps the money. If not, the family has to pay it back from other help they get.

AI-generated — May contain errors. Not legal advice. Always verify source.

Official Source
View on CA.gov

§ 21544 Special Death Benefit Payments

Upon notice of a death as a result of which the special death benefit may be payable, and when there is a survivor who would qualify under subdivision (b) of Section 21541, the board, or in disputed cases, the Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board, shall determine whether the death was industrial, and pending final determination of the issue, the board shall temporarily pay special death benefits. The temporary payments shall be deducted from any other death benefits otherwise payable if the death is determined not to be industrial. (Added by Stats. 1995, Ch. 379, Sec. 2. Effective January 1, 1996.)

Last verified: January 22, 2026

Key Terms

special death benefitindustrialWorkers’ Compensation Appeals Board

Related Statutes

  • § 21537 Death Benefit Eligibility Rules
  • § 21537.5 Highway Worker Death Benefits
  • § 21540.5 Death Benefit For Violent Acts
  • § 21538 Prison Staff Death Benefits
  • § 21539 Pre-1973 Special Death Benefit

References

  • Official text at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
  • California Legislature. Government Code. Section 21544.
View Official Source