Subject to the other provisions of this act, any member employee who shall have served or who shall hereafter have served in the employ of such city continuously for a period of 5 years and shall become permanently and totally disabled as the result of injury or illness not arising out of and in the course of his employment, shall, upon his application and approval thereof by the commissioners be retired on a pension equal to 2 1/2 % of the salary received by him at the time of his retirement; and for each additional year of aggregate service, but not more than 20 years of service in the aggregate, the amount of said pension shall be increased to the extent of 2 1/2 % of said salary for each year, not exceeding in any event 50% of said salary; provided, however, that for each year of service over 30 years there shall be an increase of disability pension of 2 1/2 % of the salary received by the employee at the time of said retirement; provided further, however, that no such pension, regardless of service or disability, shall exceed three-quarters of the annual salary of said employee at the time of retirement; nor shall any such pension be in excess of $12,000.00 per annum. Upon and after the death of such retired member or upon and after the death of any member who died as a result of injury or illness not arising out of and in the course of his employment, the said pension or a pension based upon the services of said member as the case may be, shall be paid to the surviving widow or widower, so long as he or she remains unmarried, minor children or dependent parent, as the case may be; provided, however, that in no instance shall said pension exceed the sum of $3,000.00 per annum.
N.J.S. § 43:13-22.21