(a) Dependent child or dependent children under the disability retirement and survivor benefit allowance programs means a member`s offspring or stepchild who is under 21 years of age and who is financially dependent upon the member on the effective date of the member`s disability retirement 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 retirement 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 survivor benefit allowance program shall not include 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 retirement 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 retirement or the date of the member`s death. (g) Member as used in this section shall have the same meaning specified in Section 23850.
