(a) The law in effect on the date of a qualifying member’s death shall determine the:

1. (1) Eligibility of a qualifying member’s spouse or child to receive survivor annuity benefits;
2. (2) Amount of the survivor annuity benefits to be received by an eligible survivor;
3. (3) The time at which an eligible survivor may begin receiving survivor annuity benefit payments; and
4. (4) Member’s effective retirement date.

(b)

1. (1) The Arkansas Teacher Retirement System shall send each survivor who is identified by the qualifying member to the system and who may be eligible for a survivor annuity benefit written notice of his or her potential eligibility at the survivor’s last address on file with the system.
2. (2) Survivor annuity benefits shall not be paid to the survivor of a qualifying member until the survivor provides the system with sufficient proof of his or her eligibility to receive survivor annuity benefit payments.