§ 49-15-502. Death of active member in Division B -- Payment of benefits.

(1) If an active member of this system enrolled in Division B under Section 49-15-301 dies, benefits are payable as follows:

(a) If the death is classified by the office as a line-of-duty death, the spouse at the time of death shall receive a lump sum of $1,500 and an allowance equal to 37.5% of the member's final average monthly salary.

(b) If the death is not classified by the office as a line-of-duty death, and the member has accrued two or more years of public safety service credit at the time of death, the death is considered line-of-duty and the benefit shall be paid as provided under Subsection (1)(a).

(c) If the death is not classified by the office as a line-of-duty death, and the member has accrued less than two years of public safety service credit at the time of death, the spouse at the time of death shall receive a refund of the member's member contributions, plus 50% of the member's most recent 12 months' compensation.

(d)

(i) If the member has accrued two or more years of public safety service credit at the time of death, each of the member's unmarried children to age 18 or dependent unmarried children with a mental or physical disability shall receive an allowance of $50.

(ii) Payments shall be made to the surviving parent or to a duly appointed guardian, or as otherwise provided under Section 49-11-609 or 49-11-610.

(2) In the event of the death of both parents, the spouse's benefit shall be prorated and paid to each of the member's unmarried children to age 18.

(3) If a benefit is not distributed under the previous subsections, and the member has designated a beneficiary, the member's member contributions shall be paid to the beneficiary.

(4) The combined payments to beneficiaries of any member under this section may not exceed 75% of the member's final average monthly salary.

(5)

(a) A spouse who requests a benefit under this section shall apply in writing to the office.

(b) The allowance shall begin on the first day of the month:

(i) following the month in which the member died, if the application is received by the office within 90 days of the member's death; or

(ii) following the month in which the application is received by the office, if the application is received by the office more than 90 days after the member's death.

Amended by Chapter 366, 2011 General Session
Amended by Chapter 439, 2011 General Session