Upon the death of any insured person who has met the requirements provided below by this chapter, the Secretary of Labor and Human Resources shall grant the persons who depended totally or partially for their support on the earnings of the insured person at the time of his/her death, one single payment as provided in § 688 of this title; Provided, That the employer of the deceased shall not be included among said persons. Said payment shall be distributed among these persons, subject to the condition, needs and dependency of each one, as it is decided by the Secretary of Labor and Human Resources pursuant to the facts. Provided, That for the purposes of the payment of this insurance, the woman or man who at the time of the death of the insured person, and during the last three (3) years prior to the death has lived with the insured person, shall be deemed to be entitled to a share. Provided, further, That when the persons who depended on the insured person at the time of his/her death are minors or mentally disabled, the benefits corresponding to these beneficiaries shall be delivered to the person who is, or remains in charge of said minors or disabled persons, if after the corresponding investigation is made, it is advisable to make such payments to that person, thus relieving the Secretary of Labor and Human Resources, his/her agents or employees from any future responsibility upon making the payment in the manner set forth. In any case in which the Secretary of Labor and Human Resources may determine through an investigation that she/he is prevented from paying the amount of the life insurance because there are no persons who depended for their support on the earnings of the insured person at the time of his/her death, he/she shall proceed to pay up to a maximum of six hundred dollars ($600) to the natural or juridical person who has incurred the expense of the funeral services of the insured person and who presents the corresponding vouchers.
History —May 15, 1950, No. 428, p. 1038, § 6; Sept. 15, 1950, No. 32, p. 250, § 1; May 14, 1952, No. 454, p. 924, § 7; June 11, 1954, No. 59, p. 322; June 14, 1957, No. 59, p. 137; June 14, 1960, No. 85, p. 151, § 1; June 24, 1964, No. 72, p. 220; June 21, 1971, No. 48, p. 136; renumbered as § 7 on June 18, 1980, No. 149, p. 663, § 8; Dec 20, 1995, No. 262, § 10.