(a) In the event that an Arkansas Public Employees' Retirement System Deferred Retirement Option Plan participant dies, the benefits payable from the Arkansas Public Employees' Retirement System shall be determined as though the participant had separated from service and been found eligible for monthly benefits by the Board of Trustees of the Arkansas Public Employees' Retirement System on the day prior to the death, with death following immediately thereafter.
(b) In the event that a plan participant applies for benefits from the system pursuant to § 24-4-511 related to disability retirement, the application shall be treated as an application for voluntary retirement pursuant to § 24-4-601 and no benefits other than those that would be payable without regard to the disability shall become payable.