(a) Except as provided by Subsection (c), if a member dies before retirement, a lump-sum death benefit is payable from the employees saving fund in the amount of:
(1) the decedent's accumulated contributions; plus
(2) interest computed on the decedent's accumulated contributions on January 1 of the year of death from the beginning of that year through the end of the month before the month in which death occurs.
(b) The benefit provided by this section is payable to the decedent's beneficiary or, if no surviving beneficiary exists, to the decedent's spouse or, if no surviving spouse exists, to the decedent's estate.
(c) A benefit is not payable under this section if an annuity based on the same service with the subdivision is payable under this subtitle.