Open Forum

 Deceased employee's wages

  • Select all regions this post applies to
  • U.S.
  • Select all categories this post applies to
  • Other
Martha Jackson, CPP's profile image
Martha Jackson, CPP posted 05-03-2024 12:15

We need to pay out a deceased employee's wages.  The beneficiaries are his mother (20%) and minor child (80%).  The employee is not married.  Would you make the check out to the minor child or the child's mother?  If the child's mother, what, if any, documentation would you require for proof that she is the custodial parent?

Thanks

Danielle Williams, CPP's profile image
Danielle Williams, CPP posted 05-04-2024 12:24

It depends on the state requirements in which the employee resides. You can easily find this info by doing a quick google search. The state requirements will tell you who you can make these deceased payment to. 

Julie Levier, CPP's profile image
Julie Levier, CPP posted 05-06-2024 19:43

Just because the benefit beneficiary percentages are 20%/80% does not mean that the deceased wages can be paid out the same way.

Each state has different order of precedence requirements. If you have the PAYO subscription, there's a state guide with that info. If you don't have that, your BNA/Bloomberg etc. resource should have it. If you don't have those, consider looking up by state and calling.