Montana Title 19. Public Retirement Systems § 19-5-802. Payments upon death from other than employment-related cause

(1) If a vested member dies before reaching normal retirement age, the member's designated beneficiary is entitled to a monthly survivorship benefit that is the actuarial equivalent of the retirement benefit provided in 19-5-502.

(2) When a retired member not covered under 19-5-901 and receiving an option 1 retirement benefit under 19-5-701 dies, the member's designated beneficiary must be paid the amount, if any, of the member's accumulated contributions calculated as of the day of the member's retirement minus the total of any retirement benefits already paid from the member's account. At the designated beneficiary's request, the lump sum may be paid as an actuarially equivalent annuity that will not be subject to increases for any purpose.

(3) When a retired member covered under 19-5-901 and receiving an option 1 retirement benefit under 19-5-701 dies, the member's designated beneficiary must be paid the amount, if any, of the member's accumulated contributions calculated as of the day of the member's retirement minus the total of any retirement benefits already paid from the member's account.

(4) If a retired member who elected an option 2 or 3 benefit under 19-5-701 dies with no surviving contingent annuitant, the member's designated beneficiary or, if there is no surviving designated beneficiary, the member's estate must be paid the amount, if any, of the member's accumulated contributions calculated as of the day of the member's retirement minus the total of any retirement benefits already paid from the member's account.

(5) This section does not apply if the member was receiving a disability benefit. The member's accumulated contributions may not be reduced by the disability benefits already paid unless the disability benefit was converted to a service retirement benefit pursuant to 19-2-406(5).