Mo. Rev. Stat. § 87.177

87.177. Service retirement allowance, five year service and less than twenty — survivor to share benefits — cost-of-living allowance. — 1. Any firefighter who terminates employment with five or more years of service but less than twenty years may apply at age sixty-two for a service retirement allowance. Upon written application to the board of trustees the benefit payable shall be equal to two percent times years of service times the average final compensation, and the member shall also be repaid the total amount of the member's contribution, without interest.

2. The benefits provided in subsection 1 of this section shall be in lieu of any benefits payable pursuant to the provisions of section 87.240 .

3. Any survivor of a firefighter retiring pursuant to the provisions of subsection 1 of this section shall be entitled to fifty percent of the retirement allowance of the retired member at his or her date of death.

4. Any surviving spouse of a firefighter who had five or more years of service but less than twenty years and who dies prior to application for retirement benefits payable pursuant to this section shall be entitled to fifty percent of the retirement allowance of the member at his or her date of death payable at the date the member would have reached age sixty-two, or to the immediate refund of the member's contribution plus interest. If no surviving spouse exists, a benefit shall be payable pursuant to subdivisions (2) and (3) of subsection 1 of section 87.220 , or by the immediate refund of the member's contribution plus interest.

5. Any firefighter retiring pursuant to the provisions of this section shall be entitled to receive a cost-of-living allowance of five percent per year for a maximum of five years.

(L. 2002 H.B. 1455 merged with S.B. 1107) Effective 7-11-02 (H.B. 1455); 8-28-02 (S.B. 1107)