§ 7-a. Date of death benefits. All weekly benefits payable under section seven of this article shall accrue as of the date of death of the volunteer firefighter. In the event that a person or persons entitled to weekly benefits shall die before a determination is made on the merits of their claim, and such determination on the merits is ultimately in their favor, then all weekly benefits due from the date of death of the volunteer firefighter up to the date of death of the person or persons entitled to such weekly benefits shall be paid to the executor or administrator of the estate of such person or persons.