(a) Upon separation from all service for the employer, a participant may apply for a retirement benefit, provided the retirement date is no earlier than the date on which the participant attains the normal retirement age. The retirement benefit is a distribution of the balance of the participant’s account as of the first valuation date immediately following the date of the application.
(b) Application for a retirement benefit shall be made on an application form prescribed by the board.
(c) The employer shall certify on a form prescribed by the board that the participant’s employment has terminated.