New Jersey Statutes Title 43. Pensions and Retirement and Unemployment Compensation 43 § 10-5.3

If any member of the pension fund who shall have paid into the fund the full amount of his or her assessments or contributions and been in the county services for a period of at least 1 year, dies, 2 1/2 % of the salary received by such person shall be paid each year to the surviving spouse or minor children, as the case may be, and for each additional year of service more than 1 year, the amount of the pension shall be increased to the extent of 2 1/2 % of the salary, but not to exceed in any event 50% thereof.

If any member of the pension fund who shall have deferred his pension under the provisions of R.S.43:10-2, dies before receiving any benefits, the pension shall be payable to the surviving spouse or children, as the case may be, and shall be based on the amount of salary earned and years of service which the member had at the time of deferral.

In no event shall the amount of any pension payable pursuant to the provisions of this section be less than $3,000 per annum.