1. Certain survivors specified in this section and meeting the requirements of this section may elect to forfeit any payments payable pursuant to subsection 3 or 6 of section 169.070 and to receive certain other benefits described in this section upon the death of a member prior to retirement, except retirement with disability benefits, whose period of creditable service in districts included in the retirement system is (1) five years or more, or (2) two years but less than five years and who dies (a) while teaching in a district included in the retirement system, or (b) as a result of an injury or sickness incurred while teaching in such a district and within one year of the commencement of such injury or sickness, or (c) while eligible for a disability retirement allowance hereunder.
2. Upon an election pursuant to subsection 1 of this section, a surviving spouse sixty years of age, or upon attainment of age sixty, or a surviving spouse who has been totally and permanently disabled for not less than five years immediately preceding the death of a member if designated as the sole beneficiary, and if married to the member at least three years, and if living with such member at the time of the member's death, shall be entitled to a monthly payment equal to twenty percent of one-twelfth of the annual salary rate on which the member contributed for the member's last full year of creditable service as a teacher in a district included in the retirement system until death or recovery prior to age sixty from the disability which qualified the spouse for the benefit, whichever first occurs; provided that the monthly payment shall not be less than five hundred seventy-five dollars or more than eight hundred sixty dollars. A surviving spouse, who is eligible for benefits pursuant to this subsection and also pursuant to subsection 3 of this section may receive benefits only pursuant to subsection 3 of this section as long as the surviving spouse remains eligible pursuant to both subsections, but shall not be disqualified for the benefit provided in this subsection because the surviving spouse may have received payments pursuant to subsection 3 of this section. Beginning August 28, 2001, a surviving spouse who otherwise meets the requirements of this subsection but who remarried prior to August 28, 1995, shall be entitled, upon an election pursuant to subsection 1 of this section, to any remaining benefits that would otherwise have been received had the surviving spouse not remarried before the change in law permitting remarried surviving spouses to continue receiving benefits. Such surviving spouses may, upon application, become special consultants whose benefit will be to receive the remaining benefits described in this subsection. No benefit shall be paid to such surviving spouse unless he or she files a valid application for such benefit with the retirement system postmarked on or before June 30, 2002. In no event shall any retroactive benefits be paid.
3. Upon an election pursuant to subsection 1 of this section, a surviving spouse, if designated as the sole beneficiary, who has in the surviving spouse's care a dependent unmarried child, including a stepchild or adopted child, of the deceased member, under eighteen years of age, shall be entitled to a monthly payment equal to twenty percent of one-twelfth of the annual salary rate on which the member contributed for the member's last full year of creditable service as a teacher in a district included in the retirement system until the surviving spouse's death, or the first date when no such dependent unmarried child under age eighteen, or age twenty-four if the child is enrolled in school on a full-time basis, remains in the surviving spouse's care, whichever first occurs; provided that the monthly payment shall not be less than five hundred seventy-five dollars or more than eight hundred sixty dollars. In addition the surviving spouse shall be entitled to a monthly payment equal to one-half this amount, provided that the monthly payment shall not be less than three hundred dollars, for each such dependent unmarried child under eighteen years of age, or age twenty-four if the child is enrolled in school on a full-time basis, who remains in the surviving spouse's care. Further, in addition to the monthly payment to the surviving spouse as provided for in this subsection, each dependent unmarried child under the age of eighteen years of the deceased member not in the care of such surviving spouse shall be entitled to a monthly payment equal to one-half of the surviving spouse's monthly payment which shall be paid to the child's primary custodial parent or legal guardian; provided that the payment because of an unmarried dependent child shall be made until the child attains age twenty-four if the child is enrolled in school on a full-time basis; provided, however, that the total of all monthly payments to the surviving spouse, primary custodial parent or legal guardian, including payments for such dependent unmarried children, shall in no event exceed two thousand one hundred sixty dollars, the amount of the children's share to be allocated equally as to each dependent unmarried child eligible to receive payments pursuant to this subsection.
4. Upon an election pursuant to subsection 1 of this section if the designated beneficiary is a dependent unmarried child as defined in this section or automatically upon the death of a surviving spouse receiving benefits pursuant to subsection 3 of this section, each surviving dependent unmarried child, including a stepchild or adopted child, of the deceased member, under eighteen years of age, or such a child under age twenty-four if the child is enrolled in school on a full-time basis, shall be entitled to a monthly payment equal to sixteen and two-thirds percent of one-twelfth of the annual salary rate on which the member contributed for the member's last full year of creditable service as a teacher in a district included in the retirement system until death, marriage, adoption, or attainment of age eighteen or age twenty-four if enrolled in school on a full-time basis, whichever first occurs; provided that the monthly payment shall not be less than five hundred dollars or more than seven hundred twenty dollars, and provided further that any child of the deceased member who is disabled before attainment of age eighteen because of a physical or mental impairment which renders the child unable to engage in any substantial gainful activity and which disability continues after the child has attained age eighteen shall be entitled to a like monthly payment, until death, marriage, adoption, or recovery from the disability, whichever first occurs; provided, however, that the total of all monthly payments to the surviving dependent unmarried children shall in no event exceed two thousand one hundred sixty dollars.
5. In lieu of receiving any benefit or lump sum from the retirement system, the designated beneficiary may elect under subsection 1 of this section to direct that each surviving dependent unmarried child, including a stepchild or adopted child, of the deceased member, under eighteen years of age, or such a child under age twenty-four if the child is enrolled in school on a full-time basis, shall be entitled to a monthly payment equal to sixteen and two-thirds percent of one-twelfth of the annual salary rate on which the member contributed for the member's last full year of creditable service as a teacher in a district included in the retirement system until death, marriage, adoption, or attainment of age eighteen or age twenty-four if enrolled in school on a full-time basis, whichever first occurs; provided that the monthly payment shall not be less than five hundred dollars or more than seven hundred twenty dollars, and provided further that any child of the deceased member who is disabled before attainment of age eighteen because of a physical or mental impairment which renders the child unable to engage in any substantial gainful activity and which disability continues after the child has attained age eighteen shall be entitled to a like monthly payment, until death, marriage, adoption, or recovery from the disability, whichever first occurs; provided, however, that the total of all monthly payments to the surviving dependent unmarried children shall in no event exceed two thousand one hundred sixty dollars.
6. Upon an election pursuant to subsection 1 of this section, a surviving dependent parent of the deceased member, over sixty-five years of age or upon attainment of age sixty-five if designated as the sole beneficiary, provided such dependent parent was receiving at least one-half of the parent's support from such member at the time of the member's death and provided the parent files proof of such support within two years of such death, shall be entitled to a monthly payment equal to sixteen and two-thirds percent of one-twelfth of the annual salary rate on which the member contributed for the member's last full year as a teacher in a district included in the retirement system until death; provided that the monthly payment shall not be less than five hundred dollars or more than seven hundred twenty dollars. If the other parent also is a dependent, as defined in this section, the same amount shall be paid to each until death.
7. All else in this section to the contrary notwithstanding, a survivor may not be eligible to benefit pursuant to this section because of more than one terminated membership, and be it further provided that the board of trustees shall determine and decide all questions of doubt as to what constitutes dependency within the meaning of this section.
8. The provisions added to subsection 3 of this section in 1991 are intended to clarify the scope and meaning of this section as originally enacted and shall be applied in all cases in which such an election has occurred or will occur.
9. After July 1, 2000, all benefits payable pursuant to subsections 1 to 8 of this section shall be payable to eligible current and future survivor beneficiaries in accordance with this section.
10. The system shall pay a monthly retirement allowance for the month in which a retired member, beneficiary or survivor receiving a retirement allowance or survivor benefit dies.
11. If the total of all payments made under this section is less than the total of the member's accumulated contributions, the difference shall be paid to the person making the election under subsection 1 of this section. If such person does not survive until all payments are made under this section, such difference shall be paid in accordance with section 169.076 .