2023 Arizona Revised Statutes › Title 38 - Public Officers and Employees › § 38-846 - Death benefits

38-846.
Death benefits
A. The surviving spouse of a deceased retired member shall be paid a surviving spouse's pension if the spouse was married to the member for a period of at least two consecutive years at the time of the member's death. Payment of a surviving spouse's pension shall commence as of the last day of the month following the retired member's date of death. The last payment shall be made as of the last day of the month in which the surviving spouse's death occurs.
B. The surviving spouse of a deceased member shall be paid a surviving spouse's pension if the spouse was married to the member on the date of the member's death. Payment of a surviving spouse's pension commences as of the last day of the month following the member's date of death. The last payment shall be made as of the last day of the month in which the surviving spouse's death occurs.
C. The surviving spouse of a deceased retired member is entitled to receive a monthly amount equal to four-fifths of the monthly amount of pension that the decedent would have received immediately before death.
D. The surviving spouse of a deceased member who was not killed in the line of duty or did not die from injuries suffered in the line of duty is entitled to receive a monthly amount calculated in the same manner as an accidental disability pension is calculated pursuant to section 38-845,  subsection B. The surviving spouse of a deceased member who is killed in the line of duty or dies from injuries suffered in the line of duty is entitled to receive a monthly amount equal to the deceased member's average monthly benefit compensation less any amount payable for an eligible child under this section. A member who was eligible for or receiving a temporary disability pension at the time of the member's death is not deemed to be retired for the purposes of this subsection. For the purposes of this subsection,  " killed in the line of duty"  means the decedent's death was the direct and proximate result of the performance of the decedent's public safety duties and does not include suicide. For actuarial valuation purposes,  the actuarial present value of the amount computed under this subsection for a surviving spouse of a deceased member who is killed in the line of duty or who dies from injuries suffered in the line of duty,  plus any amount payable for an eligible child under this section,  shall be deposited directly into the employer account and charged against the investment earnings of the fund before those earnings are distributed to each employer.
E. A surviving spouse shall file a written application with the system in order to receive a survivor benefit.
F. If at least one eligible child is surviving at the death of a member or retired member,  but no surviving spouse's pension then becomes payable,  a guardian's or conservator's pension shall be payable to the person who is serving,  or who is deemed by the local board to be serving,  as the legally appointed guardian or custodian of the eligible child. If an eligible child of a member or retired member is surviving at the member's or retired member's death,  the eligible child is entitled to receive a child's pension payable to the person who is serving or who is deemed by the local board to be serving as the legally appointed guardian or custodian of the eligible child until the eligible child reaches eighteen years of age,  at which time the eligible child's pension shall be paid directly to the eligible child if the person remains eligible to receive the pension and is not subject to a guardianship or conservatorship due to disability or incapacity. The pension of a child with a disability who is eighteen years of age or older and who is subject to a guardianship or conservatorship due to disability or incapacity shall continue to be paid to the guardian or conservator if the child remains eligible for the pension payment. A child's pension or a guardian's or conservator's pension terminates if the child is adopted. In the case of a child with a disability,  the child's pension or the guardian's or conservator's pension terminates if the child ceases to be under a disability or ceases to be a dependent of the surviving spouse or guardian. The member may also direct by designation to the local board that the guardian or conservator pension or child's pension be paid to the trustee of a trust created for the benefit of the eligible child. A guardian's or conservator's pension shall also become payable if at least one eligible child is surviving when a surviving spouse's pension terminates. The guardian or conservator shall file a written application with the system in order to receive the guardian's or conservator's pension and child's pension.
G. The board shall pay a guardian's or conservator's pension during the same period in which a pension is payable to at least one eligible child. The guardian,  conservator or designated trustee is entitled to receive the same monthly amount as would have been payable to the decedent's surviving spouse had a surviving spouse's pension become payable on the decedent's death.
H. Each eligible child is entitled to a monthly amount equal to one-tenth of the monthly amount of pension that the deceased member or retired member would have received immediately before death. The pension for a child of a deceased member shall be calculated in the same manner as an accidental disability is calculated pursuant to section 38-845,  subsection B. A deceased member shall be assumed to be retired for reasons of accidental disability immediately before the member's death. If there are three or more children eligible for a child's pension,  a maximum of two shares of the child's pension shall be payable,  the aggregate of such shares to be apportioned in equal measure to each eligible child.
I. If a member has accumulated contributions remaining in the system at the date of death of the last beneficiary,  a lump sum refund of such accumulated contributions shall be payable to the person whom the member has designated to the local board as the member's refund beneficiary,  or if the member's refund beneficiary is not then surviving,  to the designated contingent refund beneficiary,  or if the designated contingent refund beneficiary is not then surviving or if the surviving designated beneficiary does not apply for the benefit within twelve months from the date of the member's death,  at the election of the local board to the person's nearest of kin as determined by the local board or to the estate of the deceased member. The amount of the lump sum refund shall be the remaining accumulated contributions. The beneficiary or person who is claiming to be the nearest of kin shall file a written application in order to receive the refund.
J. In calculating the right to and the amount of the surviving spouse's pension,  the law in effect on the date of the death of the member or retired member controls,  unless the law under which the member retired provides for a greater benefit amount for a surviving spouse.