(a) Notwithstanding the other provisions of this Article, the widow of a fireman who dies on or after June 30, 1984, while receiving a retirement annuity or while an active fireman with at least 1 1/2 years of creditable service, may elect to have the amount of widow’s annuity calculated in accordance with this Section.
     (b) If the deceased fireman was an active fireman at the time of his death and had at least 1 1/2 years of creditable service, the widow’s annuity shall be the greater of (1) 30% of the salary attached to the rank of first class firefighter in the classified career service at the time of the fireman’s death, or (2) 50% of the retirement annuity the deceased fireman would have been eligible to receive if he had retired from service on the day before his death.

Terms Used In Illinois Compiled Statutes 40 ILCS 5/6-141.1

  • Annuity: A periodic (usually annual) payment of a fixed sum of money for either the life of the recipient or for a fixed number of years. A series of payments under a contract from an insurance company, a trust company, or an individual. Annuity payments are made at regular intervals over a period of more than one full year.

     (c) If the deceased fireman was receiving a retirement annuity at the time of his death, the widow’s annuity shall be equal to 50% of the amount of such retirement annuity at the time of the fireman’s death.