Section 1311. Administration of funds payable under social security act of the United States, the unemployment insurance law and the workmen's compensation law

1.   In virtue of his office and  without  issuance  of  letters  each
  public  administrator,  and  in counties having no public administrator,
  each county treasurer is authorized to receive from the social  security
  board  of  the  United  States or the unemployment insurance fund of the
  state or from any person making payment under the workmen's compensation
  law, for application according to law in the payment  of  administration
  expenses,  funeral  expenses and for distribution to the distributees of
  the deceased any moneys not exceeding $500 payable pursuant to title  II
  of  the  social  security  act  of  the United States or pursuant to the
  unemployment insurance law, or pursuant to  the  workmen's  compensation
  law,  as  the case may be, to the estate of any person dying intestate a
  resident of his county.
    2.   The moneys so received by  the  public  administrator  or  county
  treasurer  shall  be  applicable  to  the  payment  of  the  expenses of
  administration, to  the  payment  of  reasonable  funeral  expenses  not
  otherwise  provided for and any balance may be distributed without prior
  accounting decree to the persons entitled thereto as distributees of the
  decedent.
    3.   In the case of  an  infant  or  incompetent  his  share,  if  not
  exceeding $1,000, may be paid for the use and benefit of the infant to a
  parent  or  to some competent person with whom the infant or incompetent
  resides or who has an interest in his welfare.
    4.  If the sum payable to a patient in an  institution  in  the  state
  department  of  mental  hygiene is not in excess of the amount which the
  director of the institution is authorized to receive pursuant to section
  29.23 of the mental hygiene law, it may be paid to such director for use
  as provided in that section.