Any contributions made by a member of the former "State Employees' Retirement System" prior to June 30, 1953, which are in excess of those required shall be refundable with regular interest to the member on demand or used at retirement to provide an annuity of equivalent actuarial value which shall be in addition to his regular retirement allowance. The actuarial equivalent of any shortage in required contributions at the time of retirement on account of misstatement of age, leave of absence, or clerical error, shall be deducted from the retirement allowance otherwise payable.
N.J.S. § 43:15A-26