(A) (1) If any member of the Police or Fire Departments is killed or dies as the result of an injury received in the performance of duty, or dies of any disease contracted by reason of his or her occupation, or dies while in the service from any cause as a result of his or her service in the Departments, or dies in service or while on the retired list from any cause after one year of service in the Departments and leaves a widow or a child under 18 years of age the Board of Trustees shall order a pension paid to the widow, while unmarried, of one-half of salary per month and for each child until it reaches the age of 18 years, $24 per month. The Board may provide a minimum benefit of no more than $400 per month, initially, to the surviving spouse if the benefit can be supported on an actuarially sound basis by the fund. The Board may increase the minimum benefit pursuant to the terms of division (A)(2) of this section. If the deceased member was unmarried and childless, a pension shall be paid to his or her dependent father and mother of one-fourth of salary per month. If one parent is dead, the other shall receive the entire one-fourth salary.
(2) In order to adjust retirement benefits to the purchasing power of the dollar, the Board may annually order an increase in benefits paid pursuant to this section. The Board may order an increase in benefits by an amount equal to the cost-of-living increase for a recipient of Social Security, but in no case shall the annual increase exceed 5%.
(B) No person shall receive a pension from the Policemen’s and Firemen’s Pension Fund except as provided in this section.
(KRS 95.624(3)) (Ord. 448, passed 12-17-1946; Ord. 28-2019, passed 12-17-2019)