N.Y. SCP Law § 1311

§ 1311. Administration of funds payable under social security act of the\n United States, the unemployment insurance law and the\n workmen's compensation law.\n 1. In virtue of his office and without issuance of letters each\npublic administrator, and in counties having no public administrator,\neach county treasurer is authorized to receive from the social security\nboard of the United States or the unemployment insurance fund of the\nstate or from any person making payment under the workmen's compensation\nlaw, for application according to law in the payment of administration\nexpenses, funeral expenses and for distribution to the distributees of\nthe deceased any moneys not exceeding $500 payable pursuant to title II\nof the social security act of the United States or pursuant to the\nunemployment insurance law, or pursuant to the workmen's compensation\nlaw, as the case may be, to the estate of any person dying intestate a\nresident of his county.\n 2. The moneys so received by the public administrator or county\ntreasurer shall be applicable to the payment of the expenses of\nadministration, to the payment of reasonable funeral expenses not\notherwise provided for and any balance may be distributed without prior\naccounting decree to the persons entitled thereto as distributees of the\ndecedent.\n 3. In the case of an infant or incompetent his share, if not\nexceeding $1,000, may be paid for the use and benefit of the infant to a\nparent or to some competent person with whom the infant or incompetent\nresides or who has an interest in his welfare.\n 4. If the sum payable to a patient in an institution in the state\ndepartment of mental hygiene is not in excess of the amount which the\ndirector of the institution is authorized to receive pursuant to section\n29.23 of the mental hygiene law, it may be paid to such director for use\nas provided in that section.\n