(a) A surviving spouse of a judge who dies before becoming eligible to retire pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 75522 shall receive the greater of one of the following:
(1) The judge’s monetary credits determined pursuant to Section 75520, including the credits added under subdivision (b) of that section computed to the last day of the month preceding the date of distribution.
(2) Three times the judge’s annual salary at the time of his or her death. The amount shall be paid in equal monthly installments for a period of 36 months.
(b) If there is no surviving spouse, the greater of the amounts prescribed in subdivision (a) shall be paid to the surviving children of the judge; or if none, to the judge’s designated beneficiary, or if none, to the judge’s estate.