New Jersey § 43:15a-50

§ 43:15a-50.

At the time of retirement, a member shall receive benefits in a retirement allowance payable throughout life, or the member may, on retirement, elect to receive the actuarial equivalent of the member's retirement allowance, in a lesser retirement allowance payable throughout life, with

the provision that: Option 1. If the member dies before the member has received in payments the present value of the retirement allowance as it was at the time of retirement, the balance shall be paid to a legal representative or to such person as the member shall nominate by written designation acknowledged and filed with the retirement

system, either in a lump sum or by equal payments over a period of years at the option

of the payee. If the member shall have designated a natural person as the payee, said payee may

elect to receive such payments in the form of a life annuity. Option 2. Upon the member's death, the member's retirement allowance shall be continued throughout the life of and paid to such person

as the member shall nominate by written designation duly acknowledged and filed with the retirement

system at the time of retirement. Option 3. Upon the member's death, one-half of the member's retirement allowance shall be continued throughout the life of and paid to such person

as the member shall nominate by written designation duly acknowledged and filed with the retirement

system at the time of retirement. Option 4. Some other benefit or benefits shall be paid either to the member or to

whomever the member nominates, if such other benefit or benefits, together with the lesser retirement

allowance, shall be certified by the actuary to be of equivalent actuarial value. In no case, however, shall the lesser retirement allowance be smaller than that

provided under Option 2. Option 5. Some other benefit, which is equivalent to the full amount, three-quarters,

one-half or one-quarter of the member's retirement allowance, shall be paid to whomever

the member nominates and if that nominee dies before the member, the member's retirement

allowance shall increase to the maximum retirement allowance for the member's lifetime,

provided that such other benefit together with the member's lesser and maximum retirement

allowances shall be certified by the actuary to be of equivalent actuarial value. If the total amount of benefits paid to a retirant who does not elect to receive benefits in the form of an optional settlement, or to the retirant and the designated

beneficiary in the case of a retirant who does so elect, before the death of the retirant

or the retirant and the beneficiary is less than the deductions accumulated in the

retirant's account at the time of retirement, including regular interest, the balance

shall be paid in one lump sum to the retirant's designated beneficiary or estate in

the manner provided in section 51 of P.L.1954, c. 84 ( C.43:15A-51 ). Except in the case of members who have elected to receive (1) a deferred retirement

allowance pursuant to section 38 of P.L.1954, c. 84 ( C.43:15A-38 ) or (2) early retirement allowances pursuant to subsection b. of section 41 of P.L.1954, c. 84 ( C.43:15A-41 ) after separation from service pursuant to section 38, if a member dies within 30

days after the date of retirement or the date of board approval, whichever is later, the member's retirement allowance shall not become effective and the member shall be considered an active member at the time of death. However, if the member dies after the date the application for retirement was filed

with the system, the retirement will become effective if: a. (Deleted by amendment, P.L.1995, c. 221 ); b. (Deleted by amendment, P.L.1995, c. 221 ); c. The deceased member had designated a beneficiary under an optional settlement provided

by this section; and d. The surviving beneficiary requests in writing that the board make such a selection. Upon formal action by the board approving that request, the request shall be irrevocable. The board may select an Option 3 settlement, on behalf of the beneficiary of a member

who applied for and was eligible for retirement but who died prior to the effective

date of the retirement allowance, if all of the above conditions, with the exception

of c., are met.