Legal Question in Workers Comp in California

Most 'awards' are paid every 14 days, and you write this is paid monthly, so it appears this is some agreed-upon contract and not a judge's findings resulting in the payments.

IF the signed documents indicate 'dependents' or 'successors' are to receive payments when the "Applicant" or 'injured worker" dies, you just make a written demand based on the terms of the written agreement.

In short, you need to go through the signed agreement line-by-line, very very carefully. I've been doing Comp since 1987 and have never seen any WCAB Judge approve a settlement that pays the worker through age 99 because nearly no workers make it to age 99, so that would result in a windfall to the insurance company (which WCAB Judges generally prevent).

If there is no signed agreement or no contract surrendering all of the injured worker's rights in exchange for the payments, then you can attempt to make a Dependent's Death Claim...but you have to prove that the death was predominantly caused by the work injury (note a doctor won't write the pain from the spine injury resulted in death if you lost your dad to cancer or pneumonia).

Miss my Dad every day. I'm so sorry for your loss.