Emergency awards

§ 630. Emergency awards. 1. Notwithstanding the provisions of section six hundred twenty-seven of this article, if it appears to the office, that such claim is one with respect to which an award probably will be made, and undue hardship will result to the claimant if immediate payment is not made, the office may make one or more emergency awards to the claimant pending a final decision of the office or payment of an award in the case, provided, however, that the total amount of such emergency awards shall not exceed twenty-five hundred dollars. The amount of such emergency awards shall be deducted from any final award made to the claimant, and the excess of the amount of any such emergency award over the amount of the final award, or the full amount of any emergency awards if no final award is made, shall be repaid by the claimant to the office.

2. Notwithstanding the provisions of subdivision one of this section, if the crime upon which the claim is based resulted in the death of the victim, and it appears to the office that such claim is one with respect to which an award probably will be made, and undue hardship will result to the claimant if immediate payment is not made, the office may make one or more emergency awards to the claimant for reasonable burial expenses pending a final decision of the office or payment of an award in the case; provided, however, that the total amount of an emergency award or awards for reasonable burial expenses shall not exceed six thousand dollars. The amount of such emergency award or awards shall be deducted from any final award made to the claimant, and the excess of the amount of any such award or awards over the amount of the final award, of the full amount of an emergency award or awards if no final award is made, shall be repaid by the claimant to the office.