North Carolina General Statutes Chapter 58. Insurance § 58-86-60. Payments in lump sums

(1) To any firefighter or rescue squad worker upon the attaining of the age of 55 years, who, for any reason, is not qualified to receive the monthly retirement pension and who was enrolled as a member of the fund, an amount equal to the amount paid into the fund by him. This provision shall not be construed to preclude any active firefighter or rescue squad worker from completing the requisite number of years of active service after attaining the age of 55 years necessary to entitle the firefighter or rescue squad worker to the pension.

(2) If any firefighter or rescue squad worker dies, except if the individual is killed in the line of duty, before attaining the age at which a pension is payable to the firefighter or rescue squad worker under the provisions of this Article, there shall be paid to the person or persons designated by the member, or if the member has not designated a beneficiary, to the surviving spouse of the deceased member, or if not survived by a designated beneficiary or spouse, to the deceased member's legal representative, an amount equal to the amount paid into the member's separate account by or on behalf of the said firefighter or rescue squad worker.

(3) If any firefighter or rescue squad worker dies, except if the individual is killed in the line of duty, after beginning to receive the pension payable to the firefighter or rescue squad worker by this Article, and before receiving an amount equal to the amount paid into the fund by him or her, there shall be paid to the person or persons designated by the member, or if the member has not designated a beneficiary, to the surviving spouse of the deceased retired member, or if not survived by a designated beneficiary or spouse, to the deceased retired member's legal representative, an amount equal to the difference between the amount paid into the member's separate account by or on behalf of the said firefighter or rescue squad worker and the amount received by him or her as a pensioner.

(4) Any member who withdraws from the fund shall, upon proper application, be paid all moneys without accumulated earnings on the payments after the time they were made. A member may not purchase time under G.S. 58-86-45 for which he or she has received a refund.