Payment of benefits

(1) A retirement benefit or survivorship benefit granted under a retirement system subject to this chapter, other than a benefit under the defined contribution plan, must be payable in monthly installments, except as provided in this part.

(2) (a) If a member or beneficiary who is a natural person elects, the board shall pay the member's accumulated contributions to the member or beneficiary in a single lump sum.

(b) The lump sum must be paid at the time the initial monthly benefit would otherwise be payable.

(c) An election to receive a single lump sum must be made at least 30 days prior to the first payment date.

(3) A beneficiary that is a charitable organization, the estate of the payment recipient, or a trust is eligible only for a single lump sum.

(4) If a benefit recipient dies before the last day of the month, a pro rata amount otherwise payable to the payment recipient must be paid to the designated beneficiary, statutory beneficiary, or contingent annuitant or to the benefit recipient's estate, as appropriate.