Pennsylvania Statutes Title 53 P.S. Municipal and Quasi-Municipal Corporations § 881.310. Death benefits

(a) A contributor to the system who is entitled to a superannuation retirement allowance by reason of having reached superannuation retirement age or who is entitled to a withdrawal allowance by reason of having completed twenty-four years of total service, may file with the board a written application for retirement in the form required for such application, but requesting that such retirement shall become effective as of the time of his death, electing one of the options provided in section 312 of this act   1 and nominating a person having an insurable interest in his life under said option as required in said section.  In all such cases, the application shall be held by the board until the contributor shall file a later application in the usual manner for a superannuation retirement allowance or until the death of the contributor occurring while in the municipal service, at which time his retirement shall become effective with the same benefits to the person designated as if the contributor had retired on the day immediately preceding his death.

(b) A contributor to the system who is entitled to a superannuation retirement allowance by reason of having reached superannuation retirement age or who is entitled to a withdrawal allowance by reason of having completed twenty-four years of service and who has died in municipal service before filing with the board a written application for a superannuation retirement allowance as provided in subsection (a) of this section shall be considered as having elected Option 1 as provided in section 312 as of the date of his death.  In such event, payment under Option 1 shall be made to the beneficiary designated in the nomination of beneficiary form on file with the board, or if said beneficiary has predeceased the contributor, to the legal representative of said contributor.