Survivors' benefits for former or retired members

A. The surviving spouse of a deceased former member shall receive a benefit in an amount equal to fifty percent of the monthly retirement benefit that would have been payable to the decedent, provided all of the following conditions exist: (1) The decedent had terminated employment covered by this system prior to attaining the requisite age for retirement eligibility. (2) The decedent has credit for at least twelve years of service in this system and has contributions credited to his account. B. The surviving spouse of a deceased retired member or Deferred Retirement Option Plan participant shall receive a benefit in an amount equal to seventy-five percent of the monthly retirement benefit that was being paid to the decedent on the date of death. C. (1) If there is no surviving spouse eligible to receive benefits pursuant to Subsection A or B of this Section, the children of the decedent shall be entitled to benefits as provided in R.S. 11:471.1. (2) As each minor child attains age eighteen, or age twenty-three if a student, he shall receive no further benefits payable pursuant to this Subsection.