Section 13-346. Death benefits; ordinary death benefits

a. Upon the death of
  an  original  plan  member  not subject to article eleven (as defined in
  subdivision four-c of section 13-313 of this  subchapter)  who  has  not
  completed  the  period  of  service,  as  elected  by  him  or  her  for
  retirement, or upon the death of  a  former  original  plan  member  not
  subject  to article eleven, there shall be paid to his or her estate, or
  to such person as he or she has nominated or shall nominate  by  written
  designation  duly executed and filed with such board during the lifetime
  of the member:
    1.  His  or  her  accumulated  contributions,  that  is,  his  or  her
  contributions without interest; and, in addition thereto,
    2.  If  such  member  is  in  city-service  or  is  on a civil service
  preferred eligible list by reason of city-service, unless  a  retirement
  allowance  be payable by the city under the provisions of section 13-347
  of this subchapter, an amount equal to the compensation earnable by  him
  or  her  while a member, during the six months immediately preceding his
  or her death, and, if the total  number  of  years  in  which  allowable
  service   was  rendered  exceeds  ten,  then  an  amount  equal  to  the
  compensation earnable by him or  her  in  city-service  while  a  member
  during  the twelve months immediately preceding his or her death, and in
  addition,        in        either         such         case,         the
  accumulation-for-increased-take-home-pay, if any.
    a-1. Upon the death of an improved benefits plan member not subject to
  article eleven (as defined in subdivision four-i of such section 13-313)
  or  of  a  former  improved  benefits plan member not subject to article
  eleven, there shall be paid to his or her estate, or to such  person  as
  he  or  she  has nominated or shall nominate by written designation duly
  executed and filed with such board during the lifetime of the member:
    1. His or her accumulated deductions; and, in addition thereto,
    2. If such member  is  in  city-service  or  is  on  a  civil  service
  preferred  eligible  list by reason of city-service, unless a pension be
  payable by the city under the  provisions  of  section  13-347  of  this
  subchapter,  an  amount equal to the compensation earnable by him or her
  while a member, during the six months immediately preceding his  or  her
  death,  and, if the total number of years in which allowable service was
  rendered exceeds ten, then an amount equal to the compensation  earnable
  by  him  or  her in city-service while a member during the twelve months
  immediately preceding his or her death, and in addition, in either  such
  case, the reserve-for-increased-take-home-pay.
    b.  Until  the  first payment has been made on account of a retirement
  benefit without optional  selection  of  an  original  plan  member  not
  subject  to  article  eleven  or  an  improved  benefits plan member not
  subject to article eleven, such member may be construed by such board to
  have been in city-service and the applicable benefits provided  in  this
  section may be paid in lieu of the retirement allowance.
    c.  The  original  plan  member  not  subject to article eleven or the
  improved benefits plan member not subject to article eleven, or  on  the
  death of any such member, the person nominated by him or her to receive,
  in  the  case  of an original plan member not subject to article eleven,
  his or her accumulated  contributions  or  his  or  her  death  benefit,
  together with the accumulation-for-increased-take-home-pay, or both, or,
  in  the  case of an improved benefits plan member not subject to article
  eleven, the person nominated by him or her to receive either his or  her
  accumulated  deductions,  his  or  her  death benefit, together with the
  reserve-for-increased-take-home-pay, or both,  may  provide  by  written
  designation  duly  executed and filed with such board that the actuarial
  equivalent of the benefit otherwise payable in a lump sum shall be  paid
  to  the  person  designated  in  the  form  of  an  annuity  payable  in

  installments not more often than  once  a  month,  the  amount  of  such
  annuity to be determined at the time of such member's death on the basis
  of the age of the beneficiary at that time.
    d.  Upon  the  death of an original plan member not subject to article
  eleven who has completed the period of service, as elected by him or her
  for retirement, but who shall not have filed application for  retirement
  or  who,  having filed application for retirement shall die prior to the
  first payment on account of the benefits thereunder, there shall be paid
  to his or her estate, or to such person as he or she  has  nominated  or
  shall  nominate by written designation duly executed and filed with such
  board:
    1.  His  or  her  accumulated  contributions,  that  is  his  or   her
  contributions without interest; and in addition thereto,
    2.  The  present value of the pension he or she would have received if
  he or she had retired and had become entitled to a pension  for  service
  on the day immediately preceding the day of his or her death.
    e.  Notwithstanding  the  foregoing provisions of this section, and in
  lieu of any lesser amount thereby  prescribed,  upon  the  death  of  an
  improved  benefits  plan  member not subject to article eleven, prior to
  the first payment of a retirement benefit, who has completed the minimum
  period of service, as elected by him or her for retirement, and  whether
  or  not  such  member shall have filed application for retirement, there
  shall be paid to his or her estate, or to such person as he or  she  has
  nominated  or  shall  nominate  by written designation duly executed and
  filed in accordance with the requirements of this subchapter:
    1. His or her accumulated deductions; and in addition thereto,
    2. The amount of reserve equal to the present value of the pension  he
  or  she would have received if he or she had retired and became entitled
  to a pension on the day immediately preceding his or her death.
    The beneficiary of such deceased member shall have the right to accept
  such benefits in lump sum or in such periodic payments,  on  an  annuity
  basis, as such beneficiary shall elect.
    f.  1.  The  provisions  of the preceding subdivisions of this section
  applicable to original plan members not subject to article eleven  shall
  apply  to  an original plan member subject to article eleven (as defined
  in subdivision four-d of such section 13-313), except to the extent  and
  in the manner that any such provision is modified by article eleven.
    2.  The  provisions  of  the  preceding  subdivisions  of this section
  applicable to improved benefits plan  members  not  subject  to  article
  eleven  shall  apply  to  an  improved  benefits  plan member subject to
  article eleven  (as  defined  in  subdivision  four-j  of  such  section
  13-313),  except to the extent and in the manner that any such provision
  is modified by article eleven.