Mo. Rev. Stat. § 104.395 – Options available to members in lieu of normal annuity — spouse as designated beneficiary, when — statement that spouse aware of retirement plan elected — reversion of amount of benefit, conditions — special consultant, compensation — election to be made, when — dissolution of marriage, effect, cancellation, when

1. In lieu of the normal annuity otherwise payable to a member pursuant to sections 104.335, 104.370, 104.371, 104.374, or 104.400, and prior to the last business day of the month before the annuity starting date pursuant to section 104.401, a member shall elect whether or not to have such member's normal annuity reduced as provided by the options set forth in this section; provided that if such election has not been made within such time, annuity payments due beginning on and after such annuity starting date shall be made the month following the receipt by the system of such election, and further provided, that if such person dies after such annuity starting date but before making such election, no benefits shall be paid except as required pursuant to section 104.420:

Option 1.

An actuarial reduction approved by the board of the member's annuity in reduced monthly payments for life during retirement with the provision that upon the member's death the reduced annuity at the date of the member's death shall be continued throughout the life of, and be paid to, the member's spouse to whom the member was married at the date of retirement and who was nominated by the member to receive such payments in the member's application for retirement or as otherwise provided pursuant to subsection 5 of this section. Such annuity shall be reduced in the same manner as an annuity under option 2 as in effect immediately prior to August 28, 1997. The surviving spouse shall designate a beneficiary to receive any final monthly payment due after the death of the surviving spouse; or

Option 2.

The member's normal annuity in regular monthly payments for life during the member's retirement with the provision that upon the member's death a survivor's benefit equal to one-half the member's annuity at the date of the member's death shall be paid to the member's spouse to whom the member was married at the date of retirement and who was nominated by the member to receive such payments in the member's application for retirement or as otherwise provided pursuant to subsection 5 of this section, in regular monthly payments for life. The surviving spouse shall designate a beneficiary to receive any final monthly payment due after the death of the surviving spouse; or

Option 3.

An actuarial reduction approved by the board of the member's normal annuity in reduced monthly payments for the member's life with the provision that if the member dies prior to the member having received one hundred twenty monthly payments of the member's reduced annuity, the member's reduced annuity to which the member would have been entitled had the member lived shall be paid for the remainder of the one hundred twenty months' period to such beneficiary as the member shall have nominated by written designation duly executed and filed with the board. If there is no such beneficiary surviving the retirant, the reserve for such annuity for the remainder of such one hundred twenty months' period shall be paid as provided under subsection 3 of section 104.620. If such beneficiary dies after the member's date of death but before having received the remainder of the one hundred twenty monthly payments of the retiree's reduced annuity, the reserve for such annuity for the remainder of such one hundred twenty-month period shall be paid as provided under subsection 3 of section 104.620; or

Option 4.

An actuarial reduction approved by the board of the member's normal annuity in reduced monthly payments for the member's life with the provision that if the member dies prior to the member having received sixty monthly payments of the member's reduced annuity, the member's reduced annuity to which the member would have been entitled had the member lived shall be paid for the remainder of the sixty months' period to such beneficiary as the member shall have nominated by written designation duly executed and filed with the board. If there be no such beneficiary surviving the retirant, the reserve for such annuity for the remainder of such sixty months' period shall be paid as provided under subsection 3 of section 104.620. If such beneficiary dies after the member's date of death but before having received the remainder of the sixty monthly payments of the retiree's reduced annuity, the reserve for such annuity for the remainder of the sixty-month period shall be paid as provided under subsection 3 of section 104.620.

2. Effective July 1, 2000, if a member is married as of the annuity starting date to a person who has been the member's spouse, the member's annuity shall be paid pursuant to the provisions of either option 1 or option 2 as set forth in subsection 1 of this section, at the member's choice, with the spouse as the member's designated beneficiary unless the spouse consents in writing to the member electing another available form of payment.
3. For members who retire on or after August 28, 1995, in the event such member elected a joint and survivor option pursuant to the provisions of this section and the member's eligible spouse or eligible former spouse precedes the member in death, the member's annuity shall revert effective the first of the month following the death of the spouse or eligible former spouse regardless of when the board receives the member's written application for the benefit provided in this subsection, to an amount equal to the member's normal annuity, as adjusted for early retirement if applicable; such benefit shall include any increases the member would have received since the date of retirement had the member elected a normal annuity. If a member dies prior to notifying the system of the spouse's death, the benefit will not revert to a normal annuity and no retroactive payments shall be made.
4. Effective on or after August 28, 1995, any retired member who had elected a joint and survivor option and whose spouse or eligible former spouse precedes or preceded the member in death shall upon application to the board be made, constituted, appointed and employed by the board as a special consultant on the problems of retirement, aging and other state matters. As a special consultant pursuant to the provisions of this section, the member's reduced annuity shall revert to a normal annuity as adjusted for early retirement, if applicable, effective the first of the month following the death of the spouse or eligible former spouse or August 28, 1995, whichever is later, if the member cancels the member's original joint and survivor election; such annuity shall include any increases the retired member would have received since the date of retirement had the member elected a normal annuity.
5. Effective July 1, 2000, a member may make an election under option 1 or 2 after the date retirement benefits are initiated if the member makes such election within one year from the date of marriage or July 1, 2000, whichever is later, under any of the following circumstances:
1. (1) The member elected to receive a normal annuity and was not eligible to elect option 1 or 2 on the date retirement benefits were initiated; or
2. (2) The member's annuity reverted to a normal annuity pursuant to subsection 3, 4, or 9 of this section and the member remarried.
6. Any person who terminates employment or retires prior to July 1, 2000, shall be made, constituted, appointed and employed by the board as a special consultant on the problems of retirement, aging and other state matters, and for such services shall be eligible to elect to receive the benefits described in subsection 5 of this section.
7. Effective September 1, 2001, the retirement application of any member who fails to make an election pursuant to subsection 1 of this section within ninety days of the annuity starting date contained in such retirement application shall be nullified. Any member whose retirement application is nullified shall not receive retirement benefits until the member files a new application for retirement pursuant to section 104.401 and makes the election pursuant to subsection 1 of this section. In no event shall any retroactive retirement benefits be paid.
8. A member may change a member's election made under this section at any time prior to the system mailing or electronically transferring the first annuity payment to such member.
9. If a member designates a spouse as a beneficiary pursuant to option 1 or option 2 of subsection 1 of this section and subsequently that marriage ends as a result of a dissolution of marriage, such dissolution shall not affect the option election pursuant to this section and the former spouse shall continue to be eligible to receive survivor benefits upon the death of the member, except a member may cancel his or her election if:
1. (1) The dissolution of marriage of the member and former spouse occurred on or after January 1, 2021, and the dissolution decree provides for sole retention by the member of all rights in the annuity and provides that the former spouse shall not be entitled to any survivor benefits pursuant to this chapter; or
2. (2) The dissolution of marriage of the member and former spouse occurred prior to January 1, 2021, and:
  1. (a) The dissolution decree provided for the sole retention by the member of all rights in the annuity pursuant to this chapter and the parties obtained an amended or modified dissolution decree after January 1, 2021, providing for immediate removal of the former spouse as the beneficiary entitled to survivor benefits to the satisfaction of the system; or
  2. (b) The dissolution decree does not provide for the sole retention by the member of all rights in the annuity and the parties obtain an amended or modified dissolution decree after January 1, 2021, which provides for the sole retention by the member of all rights in the annuity and provides that the former spouse shall not be entitled to any survivor benefits pursuant to this chapter.
    Upon meeting the requirements of subdivision (1) or (2) of this subsection, the monthly benefit payable for the lifetime of the member shall be the actuarial equivalent of the annuity payable pursuant to the provisions of option 1 or option 2 of subsection 1 of this section, as adjusted for early retirement if applicable. In no event shall the monthly benefit payable for the lifetime of the member be greater than the amount that would have been payable to the member under subsection 3 or 4 of this section, whichever is applicable, had the former spouse died on the date of the dissolution of marriage. Any increase in the annuity amount shall be prospective and effective the first of the month following the date of receipt by the system of a certified copy of the dissolution decree that meets the requirements of this subsection.

(L. 1967 p. 191, A.L. 1972 S.B. 548, A.L. 1981 H.B. 835, et al., A.L. 1984 H.B. 1370, A.L. 1986 H.B. 1496, A.L. 1988 H.B. 1643 & 1399, A.L. 1994 H.B. 1149, A.L. 1995 H.B. 416, et al., A.L. 1997 H.B. 356, A.L. 1999 S.B. 308 & 314, A.L. 2000 H.B. 1808, A.L. 2001 S.B. 371, A.L. 2007 S.B. 406, A.L. 2013 H.B. 233, A.L. 2020 H.B. 1467 & H.B. 1934)