40 ILCS 5/8-171
In lieu of an annuity, an employee who withdraws and whose annuity would amount to less than $800 a month for life, may elect to receive a refund of his accumulated contributions for annuity purposes, based on the amounts contributed by him.
The widow of any employee, eligible for annuity upon the death of her husband, whose widow's annuity would amount to less than $800 a month for life, may, in lieu of widow's annuity, elect to receive a refund of the accumulated contributions for annuity purposes, based on the amounts contributed by her deceased employee husband, but reduced by any amounts theretofore paid to him in the form of an annuity or refund out of such accumulated contributions.
Accumulated contributions shall mean the amounts - including the interest credited thereon - contributed by the employee for age and service and widow's annuity to the date of his withdrawal or death, whichever first occurs, including any amounts contributed for him as salary deductions while receiving duty disability benefits, and, if not otherwise included, any accumulations from sums contributed by him and applied to any pension fund superseded by this fund; provided that such amounts contributed by the city after December 31, 1981 while the employee is receiving duty disability benefits and amounts credited to the employee for annuity purposes by the fund after December 31, 2000 while the employee is receiving ordinary disability shall not be included.
The acceptance of such refund in lieu of widow's annuity, on the part of a widow, shall not deprive a child or children of the right to receive a child's annuity as provided for in Sections 8-158 and 8-159 of this Article, and neither shall the payment of a child's annuity in the case of such refund to a widow reduce the amount herein set forth as refundable to such widow electing a refund in lieu of widow's annuity.
40 ILCS 5/8-171