If it appears to the board, prior to taking action on an application, that the claim is one for which compensation is probable, and undue hardship will result to the applicant if immediate payment is not made, the board may make an emergency award of compensation to the applicant pending a final decision in the case. However, (1) the amount of the emergency compensation may not exceed $5,000; (2) the amount of the emergency compensation shall be deducted from the final compensation made to the applicant; (3) the excess of the amount of the emergency compensation over the final amount shall be repaid by the applicant to the board.
Alaska Legal Code