West Virginia Code § 7-14D-19

Awards and benefits to surviving spouse – when member dies from
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nonservice-connected causes.
(a) In any case where a member who has been a contributing member for at least 10 years
dies prior to retirement from any cause other than those specified in §7-14D-18 of this code
and not due to vicious habits, intemperance, or willful misconduct on his or her part, the
fund shall pay annually in equal monthly installments to the surviving spousee during his or
her lifetime, a sum equal to the greater of: (i) One half of the annual compensation received
by the deceased member during the last 12 full months of contributoryr service; or (ii) if the
member dies after meeting early or normal retirement age requirements, the monthly
amount which the spouse would have received had the member retired the day before his or
her death, elected a 100 percent joint and survivor annuity with the spouse as the joint
annuitant, and then died. t
(b) In any case where a retired member who had been a contributing member for at least 10
years, had not obtained the age of 60 and was receiving benefits pursuant to §7-14D-15 of
this code dies and leaves a surviving spouse, the fund shall pay annually in equal monthly
installments to the surviving spouse during hiss or her lifetime a sum equal to the greater of:
(i) One half of the annual compensation received by the deceased member during the last 12
full months of contributory service; or (ii) if the member dies after meeting early or normal
retirement age requirements, the mgonthly amount which the spouse would have received
had the member retired the day before his or her death, elected a 100 percent joint and
survivor annuity with the spouese as the joint annuitant, and then died.
(c) Benefits for a surviviLng spouse received under this section, §7-14D-20, and §7-14D-21 of
this code 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.

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