If a member who has been retired for service because he or she has attained the mandatory age of retirement applicable to members of his or her category dies within 30 days after the date upon which his or her retirement was mandatory, and without having elected an optional settlement 2 or 3 or an optional settlement if involving payment of an allowance throughout the life of a beneficiary under Article 6 (commencing with Section 21450) of Chapter 13, and if no part of the allowance of the member is automatically continued by this part after his or her death, his or her death shall be considered as that of a member before retirement, and the basic death benefit shall be payable, or, if the circumstances are such that a special death benefit would be payable if the death had occurred prior to retirement, the special death benefit shall be payable.