Colo. Rev. Stat. » Title 8
Colorado Revised Statutes

Colo. Rev. Stat. § 8-41-503 (2026)

Dependency and extent determined - how

✓ current as of July 2026
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(1) Dependents and the extent of their dependency shall be determined as of the date of the injury to the injured employee, and the right to death benefits shall become fixed as of said date irrespective of any subsequent change in conditions except as provided in section 8-41-501 (1)(c). Death benefits shall be directly payable to the dependents entitled thereto or to such person legally entitled thereto as the director may designate.

(2) In case an employee or claimant entitled to compensation dies leaving dependents, any accrued and unpaid portion of the compensation or benefits up to the time of the death of such employee or claimant shall be paid to such dependents as may be ordered by the director and not to the legal representative as such of said decedent. In case the injured employee or claimant leaves no dependents, the director may order the application of any accrued and unpaid benefits up to the time of the death of such employee or claimant paid upon the expenses of the last sickness or funeral of such decedent, the preference in such payment to be to funeral expenses.

(3) In case an injured employee or dependent of a deceased employee entitled to benefits under articles 40 to 47 of this title is declared incompetent or insane, any benefits accrued or to accrue may be paid to the conservator of the estate, if any, or to any dependents, or to the party or institution having custody of the person of such injured employee or dependent of a deceased employee as may be ordered by the director in the director's discretion.

Source: L. 90: Entire article R&RE, p. 484, § 1, effective July 1. L. 91: (1) amended, p. 1351, § 2, effective May 29.

Editor's note: This section is similar to former § 8-50-105 as it existed prior to 1990.

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 7 cases, 1991–2006 · leading case: Singleton v. Kenya Corp., 961 P.2d 571 (Colo. Ct. App. 1998).
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Singleton v. Kenya Corp., 961 P.2d 571 (Colo. Ct. App. 1998). · cites it 8× “1996), a division of this court addressed the right of an employee’s dependents to permanent disability benefits under § 8-41-503, C.R.S.1997, when the employee dies of related causes prior to reaching MMI.”
City of Loveland Police Dep't v. Indus. Claim Appeals Off., 141 P.3d 943 (Colo. Ct. App. 2006). · cites it 2× “See § 8-41-503(2), C.R.S.2005; Nunnally v. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.”
Ward v. Ward, 928 P.2d 739 (Colo. Ct. App. 1996). · cites it 4× “Section 8-41-503 (1), C.R.S. 0995 Cum. Supp.”
Est. of Huey Ex Rel. Huey v. J.C. Trucking, Inc., 837 P.2d 1218 (Colo. 1992). “(1986) (now codified as § 8-41-503, 3B C.R.S. (1992 Supp.)) and that section 13-20-101, 6A C.”
Claims of the Dependents of Nunnally v. Walmart Stores, Inc., 943 P.2d 26 (Colo. Ct. App. 1996). · cites it 3× “Claimants contend that the Panel erred in denying them PPD benefits and, further, assert that they are entitled to penalties for respondents’ refusal to pay such benefits. We disagree.”
Subsequent Injury Fund v. Indus. Claim Appeals Off., 131 P.3d 1224 (Colo. Ct. App. 2006). · cites it 3× “Section 8-41-503(1), C.R.S.2005, defines dependency for purposes of awarding death benefits, stating, in pertinent part: “Dependents and the extent of their dependency shall be determined as of the date of the injury to the injured employee, and the right to death benefits shall…”
Est. of Huey v. J.C. Trucking, Inc., 824 P.2d 89 (Colo. Ct. App. 1991). · cites it 4× “The applicable statute in effect at the time of claimant’s injury, now codified at § 8-41-503(2), C.R.S. (1990 Cum.Supp.), provides that: “[I]n case an employee or claimant entitled to compensation dies leaving dependents, any accrued and unpaid portion of the compensation .”
— Colo. Rev. Stat. § 8-41-503(1) — 2 cases
Ward v. Ward, 928 P.2d 739 (Colo. Ct. App. 1996). “Section 8-41-503 (1), C.R.S. 0995 Cum. Supp.”
Subsequent Injury Fund v. Indus. Claim Appeals Off., 131 P.3d 1224 (Colo. Ct. App. 2006). “Section 8-41-503(1), C.R.S.2005, defines dependency for purposes of awarding death benefits, stating, in pertinent part: “Dependents and the extent of their dependency shall be determined as of the date of the injury to the injured employee, and the right to death benefits shall…”
— Colo. Rev. Stat. § 8-41-503(2) — 3 cases
Singleton v. Kenya Corp., 961 P.2d 571 (Colo. Ct. App. 1998). “1996), a division of this court addressed the right of an employee’s dependents to permanent disability benefits under § 8-41-503, C.R.S.1997, when the employee dies of related causes prior to reaching MMI.”
City of Loveland Police Dep't v. Indus. Claim Appeals Off., 141 P.3d 943 (Colo. Ct. App. 2006). “See § 8-41-503(2), C.R.S.2005; Nunnally v. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.”
Est. of Huey v. J.C. Trucking, Inc., 824 P.2d 89 (Colo. Ct. App. 1991). “The applicable statute in effect at the time of claimant’s injury, now codified at § 8-41-503(2), C.R.S. (1990 Cum.Supp.), provides that: “[I]n case an employee or claimant entitled to compensation dies leaving dependents, any accrued and unpaid portion of the compensation .”
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