Missouri Revised Statutes § 86.1610 - Death of member in service, benefit to be received — death of member after retirement, benefit to be received — surviving spouse benefits

86.1610. Death of member in service, benefit to be received — death of member after retirement, benefit to be received — surviving spouse benefits. — 1. Upon receipt of the proper proofs of death of a member in service for any reason whatsoever, the following amounts shall be payable subject to subsection 4 of this section, and if a pension shall be elected, the initial amount thereof shall be the base pension for such surviving spouse: (1) If the member has less than five years of creditable service, the member's surviving spouse shall be paid, in one lump sum, the amount of the member's accumulated contributions. If there is no surviving spouse, the member's accumulated contributions shall be paid as provided in subsection 6 of section 86.1420; (2) If the member has at least five but fewer than twenty years of creditable service, the member's surviving spouse may elect the lump sum settlement in subdivision (1) of this subsection or a pension. Such pension shall be fifty percent of the member's accrued pension at date of death as computed in subdivision (1) of subsection 1 of section 86.1540, commencing as provided in subsection 3 of section 86.1420; (3) If the member has at least twenty years of creditable service, the member's surviving spouse may elect any one of: (a) The lump sum settlement in subdivision (1) of this subsection; (b) The pension as computed in subdivision (2) of this subsection; or (c) A pension in the monthly amount determined on a joint and survivor's basis from the actuarial value of the member's accrued annuity at date of death; (4) Any death of a retired member occurring before the first payment of the retirement pension shall be deemed to be a death prior to retirement; (5) For the surviving spouse of a member who died in service after August 28, 2001, benefits payable under subsection 1 of this section shall continue for the lifetime of such surviving spouse without regard to remarriage. 2. Upon death of a member after retirement who has not elected the optional annuity permitted under subsection 4 of section 86.1540, the surviving spouse shall receive a base pension payable for life, equaling fifty percent of the member's base pension, as of the member's retirement date, subject to the following: (1) No surviving spouse of a member who retires after August 28, 2001, shall be entitled to receive any benefits under sections 86.1310 to 86.1640 unless such spouse was married to the member at the time of the member's retirement; and (2) Any surviving spouse who was married to such a member at the time of the member's retirement shall be entitled to all benefits for surviving spouses under sections 86.1310 to 86.1640 for the life of such surviving spouse without regard to remarriage. 3. In the case of any member who, prior to August 28, 2001, died in service or retired, the surviving spouse who would qualify for benefits under subsection 1 or 2 of this section but for remarriage, and has not remarried prior to August 28, 2001, but remarries thereafter, shall upon application be appointed by the retirement board as a consultant. For services as such consultant, such surviving spouse shall be compensated in an amount equal to the benefits such spouse would have received under sections 86.1310 to 86.1640 in the absence of such remarriage. 4. Any beneficiary of benefits under sections 86.1310 to 86.1640 who becomes the surviving spouse of more than one member shall be paid all benefits due a surviving spouse of that member whose entitlements produce the largest surviving spouse benefits for such beneficiary but shall not be paid surviving spouse benefits as the surviving spouse of more than one member, except that any surviving spouse for whom an election has been made for an optional benefit under subsection 4 of section 86.1540 shall be entitled to every optional benefit for which such surviving spouse has so contracted. (L. 2005 H.B. 323, A.L. 2011 H.B. 183 merged with H.B. 282, A.L. 2013 H.B. 116 merged with H.B. 418)