Arizona Revised Statutes Title 38. Public Officers and Employees § 38-888. Pension to the surviving spouse of a member

A. The surviving spouse of a deceased member is entitled to receive 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. The amount of a surviving spouse's pension is forty percent of the deceased member's average monthly salary or four-fifths of what the deceased member's pension would have been on the date of death had the member been retired, whichever is greater. The surviving spouse shall file a written application with the plan in order to receive the survivor benefit.

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. For the purposes of this subsection, “killed in the line of duty” means the decedent's death was the direct and proximate result of physical injuries incurred in the performance of the decedent's public safety duties and does not include suicide.

C. If a deceased member does not have an eligible surviving spouse or the pension of the eligible surviving spouse is terminated, each eligible child is entitled to a child's pension as calculated pursuant to § 38-904.