(a) Dependent child or dependent children under the disability allowance and family allowance programs means a member`s unmarried offspring or stepchild who is under 22 years of age and who is financially dependent upon the member on the effective date of the member`s disability allowance or the date of the member`s death. (b) Offspring shall include the member`s child who is born within the 10-month period commencing on the earlier of the member`s disability allowance effective date or the date of the member`s death. (c) Offspring shall include a child adopted by the member. (d) Dependent child shall not include the member`s offspring or stepchild who is adopted by a person other than the member`s spouse. (e) Dependent child under the family allowance program shall not include: (1) The member`s offspring or stepchild who was financially dependent on the member on the date of the member`s death if a disability allowance was payable to the member prior to his or her death and the disability allowance did not include an amount payable for that offspring or stepchild. (2) A stepchild or adopted child acquired subsequent to the death of the member. (f) Financially dependent for purposes of this section means that at least one-half of the child`s support was being provided by the member on the member`s disability allowance effective date or the date of the member`s death. The system may require that income tax records or other data be submitted to substantiate the child`s financial dependence. In the absence of substantiating documentation, the system may determine that the child was not dependent on the effective date of the member`s disability allowance or the date of the member`s death. (g) Member as used in this section shall have the same meaning specified in Section 23800.
