No retirement benefit may be paid unless the system has received a completed application for a retirement benefit, including the benefit option elected. The application must be signed by the generational member, and the member shall provide a copy of the member's current driver license or other picture identification card issued by a government agency or tribe. If the member is married, the spouse must sign the application and provide a copy of the spouse's current driver license or other picture identification card issued by a government agency or tribe.
A member who is married is not required to obtain the signature of the member's spouse if the member submits a completed form, in which the member certifies, under the penalty of perjury, that the member is unable to obtain the signature of the member's spouse because either:
(1) The member does not know where the member's spouse is and has made a good faith effort to locate the spouse; or
(2) Exceptional circumstances make it inappropriate for the member to obtain the signature of the member's spouse.
If the member is unable to obtain the signature of the member's spouse for either reason, the member must elect the sixty percent joint and survivor benefit pursuant to § 3-12C-1209 and provide documentation to support the assertion of subdivision (1) or (2) of this section.