Oklahoma Administrative Code
Title 590 - Oklahoma Public Employees Retirement System
Chapter 10 - Public Employees Retirement System
Subchapter 9 - Survivors and Beneficiaries
Section 590:10-9-1 - Survivors' benefits

(a) If an active or retired elected official with a minimum of six (6) years of participating service, who was first elected or appointed before November 1, 2011, or an active or retired elected official with a minimum of eight (8) years of participating service who was first elected or appointed on or after November 1, 2011, dies, the surviving spouse is eligible to receive one half (1/2) of the elected official's benefit provided the elected official had met the service requirements for retirement. If a retired elected member selected an Option to apply to his/her service, the joint annuitant receives the Option benefit instead of the one half (1/2) benefit to the spouse.

(b) At the death of a member who is eligible to retire pursuant to law but is not actually retired, or is eligible to vest or had elected a vested benefit, the surviving spouse shall be entitled to receive the appropriate Option benefit as provided by law beginning at the date the deceased member would have become eligible to receive such benefits had the member survived. The System may withhold benefits to the surviving spouse until the necessary documentation is received and verified. The benefits payable shall accrue from the first day of the month following the death of the member if the deceased member met the requirements for an early or normal retirement.