(a) Surviving spouse. This subsection applies to a participant who has a surviving spouse at the time of the participant's death. Pension benefits shall be paid:
(1) to the participant during the participant's lifetime;
(2) on the participant's death, if the spouse survives, to the spouse commencing on the first day of the month coinciding with or next following the participant's death and ceasing as of the spouse's date of death; and
(3) on the death of the surviving spouse, if there are surviving unmarried minor children of the participant, to the children commencing on the first day of the month coinciding with or next following the spouse's death.
(b) No surviving spouse. This subsection applies to a participant who does not have a surviving spouse at the time of the participant's death. Pension benefits shall be paid:
(1) to the participant during the participant's lifetime; and
(2) on the participant's death, if there are surviving unmarried minor children of the participant, to the children commencing on the first day of the month coinciding with or next following the participant's death.
(c) Children. Benefits shall be paid to a participant's children under this section as a group, with the benefit to each child ceasing when the child attains the age of 18 years or marries, whichever occurs first.
(d) Cessation of benefit payments. At the cessation of benefit payments under this section, if a total of 60 payments has not been made, benefit payments in the amount payable shall be continued and paid, until a total of 60 payments has been made to the beneficiary or, if there is no living beneficiary, the participant's estate.
(e) Lump sum payment. After any payments made under subsection (d), if benefit payments in an amount equal to accumulated contributions have not been made, the difference shall be paid in a lump sum to the beneficiary or, if there is no living beneficiary, the participant's estate.
(1985 Code, Art. 7, § 5-204) (Bill No. 90-01; Bill No. 32-04)