(a) General. If the insured individual is not survived by a widow(er) who meets the requirements of Sec. 404.391, the lump-sum death payment shall be paid as follows:
(1) To a person who is entitled (or would have been entitled had a timely application been filed) to widow's or widower's benefits (as described in Sec. 404.335) or mother's or father's benefits (as described in Sec. 404.339) on the work record of the deceased worker for the month of that worker's death; or
(2) If no person described in (1) survives, in equal shares to each person who is entitled (or would have been entitled had a timely application been filed) to child's benefits (as described in Sec. 404.350) on the work record of the deceased worker for the month of that worker's death.
(b) Application requirement. A person who meets the requirements of paragraph (a)(1) of this section need not apply to receive the lump-sum death payment if, for the month prior to the death of the insured, that person was entitled to wife's or husband's benefits on the insured's earnings record. Otherwise, an application must be filed within 2 years of the insured's death. [48 FR 21929, May 16, 1983; 61 FR 41330, Aug. 8, 1996]