State Public Pensions in Wyoming

State Public Pensions in Wyoming: key facts

Plans administered

Eight defined benefit pension plans — Public Employee (Tiers 1 and 2); State Patrol, Warden and Criminal Investigator; Law Enforcement; Judicial; Paid Fire A; Paid Fire B; Volunteer Firefighter, EMT and Search & Rescue; and State Firefighter (formerly the Guard Firefighter / Air Guard Firefighter plan, renamed and broadened to state wildland firefighters in the 2026 session) — plus the 457(b) Deferred Compensation Plan.

Beneficiary payouts

A sole beneficiary may receive a continuing monthly retirement payment; multiple beneficiaries receive lump-sum payments in equal shares; an estate, trust, charity, or other organization named as beneficiary receives a lump sum.

If no beneficiary was designated

A pre-retirement death benefit is paid to the member's designated beneficiaries, or in their absence to the member's estate (Wyo. Stat. 9-3-421(a)). WRS applies that estate default to the Public Employee, Guard/State Firefighter, and Judicial plans; in the public-safety plans — Law Enforcement; Warden, Patrol, DCI; Paid Fire; Volunteer Fire & EMT — a married member's death benefits go to the spouse. After retirement, if benefits paid stop short of the member's account balance at retirement, the excess goes to another named beneficiary or to the estate (Wyo. Stat. 9-3-421(b)).

After a retiree's death

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

Contact

Wyoming Retirement System, 2515 Warren Avenue, Suite 450, Cheyenne, WY 82002; (307) 777-7691 (fax (307) 777-5995); Retiree Services direct line (307) 777-1988. 457(b) beneficiaries contact Empower Beneficiary Support Services at 1-866-442-3888.

Who WRS will talk to

Because of member confidentiality, WRS releases benefit information only to the beneficiaries or to the personal representative of the member's estate.

Governing law: Wyo. Stat. 9-3-421; 9-3-402(a)(xxv)

Steps to take when someone dies

1. Identify which Wyoming Retirement System plan covered the deceased (Public Employee; State Patrol, Warden and Criminal Investigator; Law Enforcement; Judicial; Paid Fire A or B; State Firefighter; Volunteer Firefighter, EMT and Search & Rescue; or the 457(b) plan).
2. Contact WRS at (307) 777-7691 with the deceased member's full name, address, date of birth, date of death, RAIN ID or Social Security number, and the caller's relationship to the deceased.
3. Confirm the beneficiary designation on file and ask what survivor or death benefit is payable. If no beneficiary was designated, ask whether the benefit is payable to the estate under Wyo. Stat. 9-3-421.
4. File the survivor or death-benefit claim with the documents WRS requires; for 457(b) accounts, contact Empower Beneficiary Support Services at 1-866-442-3888.

Frequently asked questions