Effective 28 Aug 1982

87.050. Death benefits, amount — eligibility — limitations. — 1. If any member shall be killed or die while in the performance of his* duty or as the result of any injury received in the line of duty, or of any disease contracted by reason of his occupation, or shall die from any cause whatever while a member of said fire department, or shall die while receiving a disability or service pension, and shall leave a widow or child or children under the age of eighteen years surviving, said board of trustees shall order and direct the payment from the pension fund, monthly, to such widow, a sum equal to not less than twenty percent of the monthly compensation allowed a first class fireman of the fire department as salary at the date of the death of the member or seventy-five dollars, whichever is greater; and to or for the benefit of each child until it reaches the age of eighteen, a sum equal to not less than five percent of the monthly compensation allowed a first class fireman of the fire department as salary at the date of the death of the member; and to or for each unmarried child, regardless of age, who is totally and permanently mentally or physically incapacitated from engaging in gainful employment sufficiently remunerative to support himself, a sum equal to five percent of the monthly compensation allowed a first class fireman of the fire department as salary at the date of the death of the member; provided that no benefits shall be paid to or for any child over eighteen years of age who is totally and permanently mentally or physically disabled or incapacitated if such child is a patient or ward in a publicly supported institution. In the case of widows, payments shall be made only to those widows whose marriage to the member occurred prior to his retirement on disability or service pension, and shall be made only while said widow is unmarried and are to cease forever immediately upon remarriage. In the case of children no payments shall be made to or for any child born or adopted after the effective date of the member's retirement on disability or service pension, or the date of his death, and payments shall not be made for more than three eligible children and, if there are more than three eligible children, payments shall be made for the three youngest eligible children. If the member who dies is a member of a volunteer department, the amount to be paid monthly to his widow and children aforesaid shall be fixed by the board of trustees.

2. Any widow who is receiving survivors' pension benefits under the provisions of this section as it existed at any time prior to August 13, 1982, upon application to the board of trustees, shall be employed by the board as a special consultant on the problems of retirement, aging, and other pension system matters for the remainder of her life and upon request of the board shall give opinions in writing or orally, as may be requested, and for such services shall be compensated monthly in an amount equal to the difference between the amount of the monthly pension benefit the widow is receiving for herself and seventy-five dollars. This compensation shall be consolidated with the pension benefits the widow is receiving and shall be paid out of the same fund as are such benefits. Employment as a special consultant shall in no way affect any widow's eligibility for survivors' pension benefits or in any way have the effect of reducing such benefits, other provisions of law to the contrary notwithstanding.

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(RSMo 1939 § 9507, A.L. 1969 H.B. 127, H.B. 407, A.L. 1982 H.B. 904)

Prior revisions: 1929 § 8940; 1919 § 9041; 1909 § 9866

*Word "this" appears in original rolls.