(a) The surviving spouse of any member who, after the effective date of this article while in covered employment, has died or dies by reason of injury, illness or disease resulting from an occupational risk or hazard inherent in or peculiar to the service required of members, while the member was or is engaged in the performance of his or her duties as a deputy sheriff, or the survivor spouse of a member who dies from any cause while receiving benefits pursuant to section fourteen of this article, is entitled to receive and shall be paid from the fund benefits as determined in subsection (b) of this section: To the surviving spouse annually, in equal monthly installments during his or her lifetime an amount equal to the greater of: (i) Two thirds of the annual compensation received in the preceding twelve-month period by the deceased member; or (ii) if the member dies after his or her early or normal retirement age, the monthly amount which the spouse would have received had the member retired the day before his or her death, elected a one hundred percent joint and survivor annuity with the spouse as the joint annuitant, and then died.
(b) Benefits for a surviving spouse received under this section, section twenty and section twenty-one of this article are in lieu of receipt of any other benefits under this article for the spouse or any other person or under the provisions of any other state retirement system based upon the member's covered employment.
Structure West Virginia Code
Chapter 7. County Commissions and Officers
Article 14D. Deputy Sheriff Retirement System Act
§7-14D-6. Creation of Fund; Investments
§7-14D-7. Members Contributions; Employer Contributions
§7-14D-7a. Correction of Errors; Underpayments; Overpayments
§7-14D-8. Transfer From Public Employees Retirement System
§7-14D-8a. Notice Requirements; Test Case
§7-14D-9. Retirement; Commencement of Benefits
§7-14D-9a. Federal Law Maximum Benefit Limitations
§7-14D-9b. Federal Law Minimum Required Distributions
§7-14D-9d. Rollovers and Transfers to Purchase Service Credit or Repay Withdrawn Contributions
§7-14D-11. Retirement Benefits
§7-14D-14. Awards and Benefits for Disability Duty Related
§7-14D-15. Same -- Due to Other Causes
§7-14D-16. Awards and Benefits for Disability -- Physical Examinations; Termination of Disability
§7-14D-18. Awards and Benefits to Surviving Spouse -- When Member Dies in Performance of Duty, etc.
§7-14D-19. Awards and Benefits to Surviving Spouse When Member Dies From Nonservice-Connected Causes
§7-14D-20. Additional Death Benefits and Scholarships - Dependent Children
§7-14D-22. Double Death Benefits Prohibited
§7-14D-24a. Return to Covered Employment by Retired Member
§7-14D-26. Fraud; Penalties; and Repayment
§7-14D-28. Pro Rata Reduction of Annuities
§7-14D-30. Limitation of County Liability