15-5-411, which shall be the actuarial equivalent of the benefit

15-5-411, which shall be the actuarial equivalent of the benefit to which he would otherwise be entitled:

(i) A reduced pension payable to the retired member and upon his death all of the reduced pension to be paid to his surviving spouse;

(ii) A reduced pension payable to the retired member and upon his death one-half (1/2) of the reduced pension to be paid to his surviving spouse;

(iii) A benefit which provides reduced monthly service retirement payments with provision for the continuance of payments for ten (10) years certain and life thereafter. If the retired member dies within ten (10) years after retirement, the remaining guaranteed payments shall be made to his designated beneficiary. This beneficiary may be changed at any time by written notification to the board as provided in subsection (b) of this section;

(iv) The largest possible benefit for life with no lump sum refund or benefit for anyone else upon the retired member's death;

(v) Any other modified monthly service retirement benefit, including any other modified joint and survivor monthly service retirement benefit, actuarially determined, which the board approves.

(b) An election of an optional benefit shall be in writing and filed with the board prior to the first benefit payment. After an election of any of the options provided in subsection (a) of this section has been made and the member has cashed his first pension check, or sixty (60) days from the date of issuance of the check have elapsed, the election is irrevocable unless a beneficiary dies prior to the occurrence of either such event, in which case the election is void and the member may, by written notice to the board, designate a new beneficiary and may select a different option. As provided in paragraph (a)(iii) of this section, upon written notice to the board, a member may change a beneficiary at any time within the ten (10) year period.

(c) The retirement benefits payable under optional forms available under this section shall be the actuarial equivalent of the normal benefit form under W.S. 15-5-409.

15-5-414. Death benefit.

Except as may otherwise be provided in any of the options under W.S. 15-5-413, upon the death of a member, inactive member, retired member or individual receiving a survivor's pension, there shall be paid to the designated beneficiary or beneficiaries or, in the absence of a designated beneficiary, to the estate of the member, inactive member, retired member or survivor, a lump sum equal to the excess, if any, of the member's contributions paid from any source without interest over the aggregate of all pension payments made.

15-5-415. Withdrawal benefit.

(a) The accumulated contributions without interest of a member who is neither eligible for a service nor disability pension, nor has a vested right to a service pension, shall be refunded upon his withdrawal from service. There shall be a rebuttable presumption that a former member who fails to apply for a withdrawal benefit within five (5) years after the date of withdrawal has waived his right to such benefit.

(b) If a member has a vested right to a service pension and withdraws from service and is not immediately eligible for a service or disability benefit, he may request a refund of his accumulated contributions without interest. Refund of such contributions extinguishes all rights to any benefits under this article.

15-5-416. Repealed By Laws 2012, Ch. 107, § 3.

15-5-417. Application of benefits.

(a) A service pension, disability pension, survivor's pension, death benefit or withdrawal benefit shall be paid only upon the filing of an application in a form prescribed by the board. A monthly benefit shall not be payable for any month earlier than the second month preceding the date on which the application for such benefit is filed.

(b) The board may require any member, inactive member, retired member or eligible survivor to furnish any information as may be required for the determination of benefits under this article, if the determination of the pension is dependent upon that information. The board may withhold payment of any benefit, if the determination of the benefit is dependent upon the information and the member, inactive member, retired member or eligible survivor does not cooperate in the furnishing or procuring thereof.

15-5-418. Election of membership.

(a) A "paid fireman" as defined in W.S. 15-5-201(a)(xi) may elect to become a member, as defined in this article by filing an election with the board not later than December 31, 1981, or within thirty (30) days of return to service, if later, for any paid fireman who leaves service prior to July 1, 1981.

(b) Commencing January 1, 1982, or thirty (30) days after return to service, if later, an electing member is covered by the provisions of this article, and all rights to a pension under W.S. 15-5-201 through 15-5-209 are extinguished. The member shall receive credited service for all prior service, not to exceed ten (10) years, which was recognized under W.S. 15-5-201 through 15-5-209. However, that credit may be reinstated only by payment of any contributions previously refunded with interest at the rate of eight percent (8%) per annum from the date of refund.

15-5-419. Dual membership prohibited.

(a) Any employee hired before July 1, 1981 is covered by the pension system specified in W.S. 15-5-201 through 15-5-209 unless he elects to become a member pursuant to W.S. 15-5-418. Any employee hired on or subsequent to July 1, 1981 is covered by the pension system specified in this article. No employee may be covered by the pension systems of both W.S. 15-5-201 through