Any workers compensation judge who has served at least five years successively as a judge of compensation and at least 10 years of aggregate public service, and who resigns or is not reappointed before reaching age 60, and not by removal for cause on charges of misconduct or delinquency, may elect to receive:
If such inactive member shall die after attaining age 60 but before filing an application for retirement benefits pursuant to this section or section 7 of this act and for which benefits the member would have qualified, or in the event of death after retirement, there shall be paid to such member's beneficiary the death benefits prescribed by section 10 of this act.
No beneficiary shall be eligible for a pension or survivor's benefit if the member who elected to receive a deferred pension shall die before attaining age 60. Upon receipt of the proper proofs of death, the beneficiary of a member who elects to receive a deferred retirement allowance shall be paid the member's accumulated deductions at the time of death together with regular interest.
Any member who, having elected to receive a deferred pension or deferred retirement allowance, again becomes a member while under the age of 60, shall thereupon be reenrolled. The member shall be credited with all service as a member standing to the member's credit at the time of the member's election to receive a deferred pension or deferred retirement allowance.
N.J.S. § 43:15A-149