Benefits designated as unemployment insurance benefits shall become payable from the fund to any individual who is or becomes unemployed and eligible for benefits under the terms of this article. All benefits shall be paid through the department or such other agencies as the department by rule may designate at such times and in such manner as the department may prescribe. The department may adopt rules to provide for the payment of benefits due and payable on executed vouchers to persons since deceased; benefits so due and payable may be paid to the legal representative, dependents, or next of kin of the deceased as are found to be entitled thereto, which rules need not conform with the laws of the state governing decedent estates, and every such payment shall be deemed a valid payment to the same extent as if made to the legal representative of the deceased.
IC 22-4-12-1