If an injury by accident arising out of and in the course of employment causes the death of an employee in the employ of an employer, within the provisions of chapters 616A to 616D, inclusive, of NRS, the compensation is known as a death benefit and is payable as follows:
1. In addition to any other compensation payable pursuant to chapters 616A to 616D, inclusive, of NRS, burial expenses are payable in an amount not to exceed $10,000, plus the cost of transporting the remains of the deceased employee. When the remains of the deceased employee and the person accompanying the remains are to be transported to a mortuary or mortuaries, the charge of transportation must be borne by the insurer.
2. Except as otherwise provided in subsection 3, to the surviving spouse of the deceased employee, 66 2/3 percent of the average monthly wage is payable until the death of the surviving spouse.
3. If there is a surviving spouse and any surviving children of the deceased employee who are not the children of the surviving spouse, the compensation otherwise payable pursuant to subsection 2 must be paid as follows until the entitlement of all children of the deceased employee to receive compensation pursuant to this subsection ceases:
(a) To the surviving spouse, 50 percent of the death benefit is payable until the death of the surviving spouse; and
(b) To each child of the deceased employee, regardless of whether the child is the child of the surviving spouse, the child’s proportionate share of 50 percent of the death benefit and, except as otherwise provided in subsection 11, if the child has a guardian, the compensation the child is entitled to receive may be paid to the guardian.
4. In the event of the subsequent death of the surviving spouse:
(a) Each surviving child of the deceased employee, in addition to any amount the child may be entitled to pursuant to subsection 3, must share equally the compensation theretofore paid to the surviving spouse but not in excess thereof, and it is payable until the youngest child reaches the age of 18 years.
(b) Except as otherwise provided in subsection 11, if the children have a guardian, the compensation they are entitled to receive may be paid to the guardian.
5. If there are any surviving children of the deceased employee under the age of 18 years, but no surviving spouse, then each such child is entitled to his or her proportionate share of 66 2/3 percent of the average monthly wage for the support of the child.
6. Except as otherwise provided in subsection 7, if there is no surviving spouse or child under the age of 18 years, there must be paid:
(a) To a parent, if wholly dependent for support upon the deceased employee at the time of the injury causing the death of the deceased employee, 33 1/3 percent of the average monthly wage.
(b) To both parents, if wholly dependent for support upon the deceased employee at the time of the injury causing the death of the deceased employee, 66 2/3 percent of the average monthly wage.
(c) To each brother or sister until he or she reaches the age of 18 years, if wholly dependent for support upon the deceased employee at the time of the injury causing the death of the deceased employee, his or her proportionate share of 66 2/3 percent of the average monthly wage.
7. The aggregate compensation payable pursuant to subsection 6 must not exceed 66 2/3 percent of the average monthly wage.
8. In all other cases involving a question of total or partial dependency:
(a) The extent of the dependency must be determined in accordance with the facts existing at the time of the injury.
(b) If the deceased employee leaves dependents only partially dependent upon the earnings of the deceased employee for support at the time of the injury causing his or her death, the monthly compensation to be paid must be equal to the same proportion of the monthly payments for the benefit of persons totally dependent as the amount contributed by the deceased employee to the partial dependents bears to the average monthly wage of the deceased employee at the time of the injury resulting in his or her death.
(c) The duration of compensation to partial dependents must be fixed in accordance with the facts shown, but may not exceed compensation for 100 months.
9. Compensation payable to a surviving spouse is for the use and benefit of the surviving spouse and the dependent children, and the insurer may, from time to time, apportion such compensation between them in such a way as it deems best for the interest of all dependents.
10. In the event of the death of any dependent specified in this section before the expiration of the time during which compensation is payable to the dependent, funeral expenses are payable in an amount not to exceed $10,000.
11. If a dependent is entitled to receive a death benefit pursuant to this section and is less than 18 years of age or incapacitated, the legal representative of the dependent shall petition for a guardian to be appointed for that dependent pursuant to NRS 159.044 or 159A.044, as applicable. An insurer shall not pay any compensation in excess of $3,000, other than burial expenses, to the dependent until a guardian is appointed and legally qualified. Upon receipt of a certified letter of guardianship, the insurer shall make all payments required by this section to the guardian of the dependent until the dependent is emancipated, the guardianship terminates or the dependent reaches the age of 18 years, whichever occurs first, unless paragraph (a) of subsection 12 is applicable. The fees and costs related to the guardianship must be paid from the estate of the dependent. A guardianship established pursuant to this subsection must be administered in accordance with chapter 159 or 159A of NRS, as applicable, except that after the first annual review required pursuant to NRS 159.176 or 159A.176, as applicable, a court may elect not to review the guardianship annually. The court shall review the guardianship at least once every 3 years. As used in this subsection, "incapacitated" has the meaning ascribed to it in NRS 159.019.
12. Except as otherwise provided in paragraphs (a) and (b), the entitlement of any child to receive his or her proportionate share of compensation pursuant to this section ceases when the child dies, marries or reaches the age of 18 years. A child is entitled to continue to receive compensation pursuant to this section if the child is:
(a) Over 18 years of age and incapable of supporting himself or herself, until such time as the child becomes capable of supporting himself or herself; or
(b) Over 18 years of age and enrolled as a full-time student in an accredited vocational or educational institution, until the child reaches the age of 22 years.
13. As used in this section, "surviving spouse" means a surviving person who was married to the employee at the time of the employee’s death.
[Part 59:168:1947; A 1949, 659; 1951, 485; 1953, 292; 1955, 901]—(NRS A 1957, 732; 1959, 614; 1963, 1144; 1965, 264; 1966, 46; 1967, 686; 1969, 476; 1973, 533; 1975, 600; 1979, 764, 1059; 1981, 1495; 1989, 333; 1991, 804; 1993, 751; 1999, 1224; 2007, 679, 3358; 2009, 3037, 3073; 2017, 795, 902, 3922)
Structure Nevada Revised Statutes
Chapter 616C - Industrial Insurance: Benefits for Injuries or Death
NRS 616C.035 - Application for death benefit.
NRS 616C.085 - Duties of employer when employee injured: First aid; reimbursement.
NRS 616C.115 - Prescription of generic drugs required; exceptions.
NRS 616C.117 - Prescription of drugs dispensed directly to injured employee; limitations.
NRS 616C.120 - Employee may elect treatment through prayer in lieu of medical treatment.
NRS 616C.185 - Compensation for mastectomy and reconstructive surgery.
NRS 616C.190 - Compensation of employee injured out of State.
NRS 616C.210 - Compensation of nonresident alien dependents; notification of dependent required.
NRS 616C.300 - Hearing officers: Appointment; salary; disqualification from particular case.
NRS 616C.370 - Judicial review.
NRS 616C.375 - Stay of decision of appeals officer.
NRS 616C.380 - Payment pending appeal when decision not stayed; effect of final resolution of claim.
NRS 616C.385 - Costs and attorney’s fees for frivolous petitions for judicial review.
NRS 616C.400 - Minimum duration of incapacity; exceptions.
NRS 616C.405 - Limitations on benefits received by employee.
NRS 616C.408 - Restrictive endorsements on checks issued by insurers.
NRS 616C.409 - Direct deposit of compensation.
NRS 616C.410 - Prohibition of settlements paid in lump sum; exceptions.
NRS 616C.415 - Written explanation of alternative settlements to be given to employee or dependents.
NRS 616C.420 - Method of determining average monthly wage.
NRS 616C.425 - Date of determination of amount of compensation and benefits.
NRS 616C.435 - Injuries deemed total and permanent.
NRS 616C.455 - Increase in benefits for permanent total disability incurred before April 9, 1971.
NRS 616C.473 - Annual increase in benefits for permanent total disability.
NRS 616C.485 - Permanent partial disability: Loss of or permanent damage to teeth.
NRS 616C.495 - Permanent partial disability: Payments in lump sum.
NRS 616C.505 - Amount and duration of compensation.
NRS 616C.508 - Annual increase in death benefits.
NRS 616C.510 - Increased death benefits if injury or disablement occurred before July 1, 1973.
NRS 616C.520 - Increased death benefits if injury or disablement occurred on or after July 1, 1973.
NRS 616C.530 - Priorities for returning injured employee to work.
NRS 616C.541 - Appointment of vocational rehabilitation counselor.
NRS 616C.543 - Prohibited acts of vocational rehabilitation counselor.
NRS 616C.547 - General duties of vocational rehabilitation counselor.
NRS 616C.560 - Extension of program for vocational rehabilitation.
NRS 616C.570 - On-the-job training as component of plan for program of vocational rehabilitation.
NRS 616C.575 - Payment of vocational rehabilitation maintenance.
NRS 616C.580 - Provision of services outside of State; limited lump-sum payment in lieu of services.
NRS 616C.585 - Limit on goods and services which may be provided; exceptions.
NRS 616C.700 - Duties of insurer who accepts a claim for catastrophic injury; life care plan.
NRS 616C.710 - Rescission or revision of determination of catastrophic injury.
NRS 616C.720 - Requirements for adjuster who administers claim for catastrophic injury.