If the employee dies with no dependents, to whom is the money paid?

• A. Installments until 250,000 to the Department of Industrial Relations
• B. Installments until 300,000 to the Department of Industrial Relations
• C. It is paid out in a lump sum of 250,000 to the Department of Industrial Relations
• D. It is paid out in a installments until 300,000 to the Department of Industrial Relations

Answer: (C)

When a California self‑insurance plan pays death benefits, the money normally goes to the employee’s dependents. If there are no dependents, the statute directs the entire death benefit to be paid as a single lump sum of 250,000 to the Department of Industrial Relations. This setup gives the state a one-time recovery rather than ongoing installments since there are no survivors to receive payments. That’s why the correct approach is a lump-sum payment of 250,000 to the Department of Industrial Relations. The other options don’t fit because they imply either installments to someone or a different amount, which isn’t allowed when there are no dependents.