State Public Pensions in Wisconsin

State Public Pensions in Wisconsin: key facts

System

Wisconsin Retirement System (WRS), administered by the Department of Employee Trust Funds, covering state employees, most local-government employees, and teachers.

Death before retirement

For a member who dies before taking a retirement benefit: an active employee's beneficiary is paid the total account value (employee-required and employer-required contributions, any employee additional contributions, and accumulated interest); an inactive employee's beneficiary is paid a partial account value that excludes the employer-required contributions. At or after age 55 (50 with protective category service), the benefit is the higher of the money purchase or special death benefit calculation.

Death after retirement

The benefit is based on the annuity option the member chose at retirement: any remaining payments in a guarantee period, or a lifetime benefit to one named survivor, or no benefit payable at all.

Beneficiary on file

Retirement and life insurance death benefits are paid on the member's most recent Beneficiary Designation (form ET-2320) on file with ETF. With no form on file, benefits pass under the Wisconsin Statutory Standard Sequence.

Payments after the date of death

ETF recovers any electronic payments issued to the member after the date of death. Do not close the deceased member's bank account until those funds have been recovered.

Other benefits to check

Beyond the retirement benefit, a WRS member may leave group life insurance, continued group health coverage for a surviving insured spouse and dependents, and a Wisconsin Deferred Compensation (WDC) account, which pays under its own beneficiary designation (WDC: 1-877-457-9327).

Confidentiality

ETF gives benefit information only to the beneficiaries or the personal representative of the member's estate.

Governing law: Wis. Stat. ch. 40 (Public Employee Trust Fund); Wis. Stat. 40.73 (death benefits); Wis. Stat. 40.02(8)(a) (beneficiary; statutory standard sequence)

Steps to take when someone dies

1. Identify whether the deceased was a member or annuitant of the Wisconsin Retirement System.
2. Call ETF at 1-877-533-5020 to report the death. ETF asks for:
   • The deceased's full name, address, birth date, and date of death
   • The deceased's ETF Member ID or Social Security number
   • The caller's relationship to the deceased
   • A primary contact's name, address, phone number, and relationship to the deceased
3. Leave the deceased member's bank account open until ETF recovers any electronic payments issued after the date of death.
4. ETF determines what benefit is payable and locates the beneficiaries on the ET-2320 designation (or, with none on file, under the Statutory Standard Sequence), then requests a certified copy of the death certificate that lists cause of death, along with the beneficiary's application.
5. Check the member's other coverages: group life insurance, continuation of group health insurance, and any Wisconsin Deferred Compensation account (1-877-457-9327).

Frequently asked questions