§8-22A-20. Awards and benefits to surviving spouse -- When member dies in performance of duty, etc.; exception during early period.
(a) Except as provided in subsection (a), section nine of this article, 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 police officer or firefighter, or the surviving spouse of a member who dies from any cause while receiving benefits pursuant to section seventeen of this article, is entitled to receive and shall be paid from the fund benefits as determined in this section. To the surviving spouse annually, in equal monthly installments during his or her lifetime, an amount equal to the greater of: (1) Two thirds of the annual compensation received in the preceding twelve-month period by the deceased member; or (2) if the member dies after his or her 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-two and section twenty-three 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 on the member's covered employment.

Note: WV Code updated with legislation passed through the 2012 1st Special Session