(a) Upon the death of a member in service, a monthly survivor's pension shall be payable to his or her eligible survivor or survivors equal to 3/4 of the service pension the employee would have been eligible to receive had he or she elected the option provided under § 8821A(b) of this title.
(b) Upon the death of an employee in service, whose death occurred in the line of duty, a monthly survivor's pension shall be payable to the primary survivor equal to 3/4 of the member's compensation.
(c) Upon the death of an individual receiving a service or disability pension at the time of his or her death, a monthly survivor's pension shall be payable to the primary survivor and surviving dependents equal to the greater of:
(1) Prior to retirement; or
(2) For at least 1 year before the date of death, unless the death was the result of an accident.
(d) A survivor's pension shall begin with the month following the month in which the member or retired member dies. If payable to a surviving spouse who dies or marries, it shall become payable in the following month to the next primary survivor as defined in § 8801 of this title or cease with that month in the absence of the eligible dependents. If payable to a child who dies or fails to meet the conditions of eligibility in § 8801(4) of this title, it shall become payable in the following month to a dependent parent or cease with that month in the absence of eligible parents. If payable to a parent, it shall cease with the month in which the parent dies.