State Public Pensions in Wyoming

Reporting a death

To report a death, WRS asks for 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.¹

Who may be given benefit information

Because of member confidentiality, WRS releases benefit information only to the beneficiaries or to the personal representative of the member's estate.¹

Death after retirement

A sole beneficiary may receive a continuing monthly retirement payment, and multiple beneficiaries receive lump-sum payments in equal shares. An estate, trust, charity, or other organization named as beneficiary receives a lump sum.¹

Who receives the benefit

Wyo. Stat. 9-3-421(a) pays a member's pre-retirement death benefit to the member's designated beneficiaries, or in their absence to the member's estate.²

After retirement, if the benefits paid stop short of the member's account balance at retirement, Wyo. Stat. 9-3-421(b) pays the excess to another named beneficiary or to the member's estate.²

For a member of the Public Employee, Guard/State Firefighter, or Judicial plan who designated no beneficiary, WRS pays the pre-retirement death benefit to the member's estate.³

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.³

Payments after the date of death

WRS stops the benefit and recovers any electronic payments issued to the deceased the month after the date of death.^{1, 3}

WRS asks that the deceased member's bank account not be closed until those funds have been recovered.^{1, 3}

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

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

State Firefighter (formerly Guard Firefighter / Air Guard Firefighter)

Broadened to state wildland firefighters in the 2026 session^{6, 5}

457(b) Deferred Compensation Plan

Empower Beneficiary Support Services

Survivor options for beneficiaries of the 457(b) Deferred Compensation Plan, which Empower administers¹

Phone: 1-866-442-3888

1. 1.Retiree Survivor Information (Wyoming Retirement System)
2. 2.Wyoming Statutes Title 9 (Wyo. Stat. 9-3-421, Death benefits)
3. 3.Survivor Benefits (Wyoming Retirement System, members)
4. 4.Pension Plan Characteristics (Wyoming Retirement System)
5. 5.Pension Handbooks (Wyoming Retirement System)
6. 6.State Firefighter Pension Plan Handbook (Wyoming Retirement System)