A. Except as provided in subsections F, G and H, if death results from the accident within nine years, the employer shall pay, or cause to be paid, compensation in weekly payments equal to 66 and two-thirds percent of the employee's average weekly wages, but not more than 100 percent of the average weekly wage of the Commonwealth as defined in § 65.2-500 nor less than 25 percent of the average weekly wage as defined therein:
1. To those persons presumed to be wholly dependent upon the deceased employee as set forth in subdivisions A 1 and 2 of § 65.2-515, for a period of 500 weeks from the date of injury; or
2. If there are no total dependents pursuant to subdivision A 1 or 2 of § 65.2-515, to those persons presumed to be wholly dependent as set forth in subdivision A 3 of § 65.2-515, and to those determined to be wholly dependent in fact, for a period of 400 weeks from the date of injury; or
3. If there are no total dependents, to partial dependents in fact, for a period of 400 weeks from the date of injury.
B. The employer shall also pay burial expenses not exceeding $10,000 and reasonable transportation expenses for the deceased not exceeding $1,000.
C. Benefits shall be divided equally among total dependents, to the exclusion of partial dependents. If there are no total dependents, benefits shall be divided among partial dependents according to the dependency of each upon the earnings of the employee at the time of the injury, in the proportion that partial dependency bears to total dependency.
D. If benefits are terminated as to any member of a class herein, that member's share shall be divided among the remaining members of the class proportionately according to their dependency.
E. When weekly payments have been made to an injured employee before his death, the compensation to dependents shall begin from the date of the last of such payments but shall not continue for a period longer than specified in subsection A.
F. No benefits shall be paid pursuant to this section to the dependents of an AmeriCorps member as defined in subdivision 1 r of the definition of "employee" in § 65.2-101.
G. No benefits shall be paid pursuant to subsection A, C, D, or E to the dependents of a Food Stamp recipient participating in the work experience component of the Food Stamp Employment and Training Program as defined in subdivision 1 s of the definition of "employee" in § 65.2-101.
H. No benefits shall be paid pursuant to subsection A, C, D, or E to the dependents of a Temporary Assistance for Needy Families recipient participating in the work experience component of the Virginia Initiative for Education and Work as defined in subdivision 1 t of the definition of "employee" in § 65.2-101.
Code 1950, §§ 65-62, 65-65, 65-67; 1952, c. 226; 1954, c. 654; 1956, c. 243; 1958, c. 568; 1960, c. 556; 1962, c. 503; 1964, c. 94; 1966, c. 64; 1968, cc. 8, 660, §§ 65.1-65, 65.1-68, 65.1-70; 1970, cc. 470, 643; 1972, c. 229; 1973, cc. 401, 542; 1974, c. 560; 1975, c. 447; 1976, c. 166; 1981, c. 247; 1984, c. 409; 1985, c. 35; 1991, c. 355; 1992, cc. 2, 147; 1998, c. 100; 2004, c. 888; 2005, c. 472; 2019, c. 210; 2020, c. 900.
Structure Code of Virginia
Title 65.2 - Workers' Compensation
Chapter 5 - Compensation and Payment Thereof
§ 65.2-501. Incapacity after permanent loss
§ 65.2-506. Compensation after second injury in same employment
§ 65.2-507. Same employment; when both injuries permanent
§ 65.2-509. Commencement of compensation
§ 65.2-510. Refusal of employment; compensation for partial incapacity
§ 65.2-510.1. Employee imprisonment; suspension of benefits
§ 65.2-511. Compensation to employee's distributees upon his death from any other cause
§ 65.2-512. Compensation to dependents of an employee killed; burial expenses
§ 65.2-514. Special provisions for coal worker's pneumoconiosis claims for total disability or death
§ 65.2-515. Persons conclusively presumed to be wholly dependent
§ 65.2-516. Other cases of dependency
§ 65.2-517. Termination of dependency
§ 65.2-518. Limitation upon total compensation
§ 65.2-519. When limitations inapplicable to injuries arising out of pneumoconiosis
§ 65.2-520. Voluntary payment by employer
§ 65.2-522. Lump sum payments, generally
§ 65.2-523. Lump sum payments to trustees
§ 65.2-524. Failure to pay compensation within two weeks after it becomes due
§ 65.2-525. Who may receive payment and receipt therefor
§ 65.2-526. Payment to junior dependents in good faith
§ 65.2-527. When employee's rights exercised by guardian or trustee
§ 65.2-528. Time limitations on persons under disability
§ 65.2-530. Preferences and priorities
§ 65.2-531. Assignments of compensation; exemption from creditors' claims