§ 61-a. Payment of interest on death benefits and accumulated contributions. Interest shall accrue against unpaid accidental and ordinary death benefits plus the reserve-for-increased-take-home-pay from the date of death of a member until payment thereof is made. Interest shall accrue against accumulated member contributions from the date of death until payment thereof is made, where no death benefit is payable on account of such death. An application for the payment of such benefits must be made in writing on a blank provided by the comptroller for such purpose. Interest against the unpaid benefit shall be at the rate provided for by subdivision one of section three-a of the general municipal law.