When an employee has been awarded or is entitled to an award of compensation for a definite period under IC 22-3-2 through IC 22-3-6 for an injury occurring prior to April 1, 1945, and dies from any other cause than such injury, payment of the unpaid balance of such compensation, not exceeding three hundred (300) weeks, shall be made to his dependents as defined in section 18 of this chapter; provided that where the compensable injury occurred on and after April 1, 1945, and prior to April 1, 1951, the maximum shall not exceed three hundred fifty (350) weeks. With respect to any such injury occurring on and after April 1, 1951, the maximum shall not exceed three hundred fifty (350) weeks for dependents of the second or third class and the maximum shall not exceed five hundred (500) weeks for dependents of the first class.
IC 22-3-3-16