Wisconsin Retirement System (WRS)
For more information regarding the Wisconsin Retirement System and other retirement benefits, see the Department of Employee Trust Funds or the UW-L Retirement web page. For rehired annuitant information, see Returning to Work After Retirement.
What is the Wisconsin Retirement System (WRS)?
The Wisconsin Retirement System provides eligible State of
Wisconsin employees with a lifetime retirement annuity, unless
an individual only qualifies for a lump-sum payout or chooses a
separation benefit prior to retirement age. Approximately 10
percent of an employee's annual salary is contributed to his or
her retirement account annually. Though the University makes the
entire contribution, the account is split between employee and
employer contributions. The percentage invested may change
slightly on an annual basis, but the amount is contributed in
addition to your annual salary, rather than having the
percentage deducted from your paychecks.
Am I eligible to participate?
Coverage is mandatory for faculty and academic staff members
employed at least one-third time for at least one year. Those
not immediately eligible are covered after one year if they
averaged one-third time in the previous year. Classified
employees have mandatory coverage if employed 600 hours for at
least one year.
Some details about the WRS:
The Department of Employee Trust Funds (ETF) administers the retirement program for the State of Wisconsin, including the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse. The following types of benefits are available through the Wisconsin Retirement System:
Separation Benefits. If you terminate employment before age 55 (50 for protective category employees), you may receive a separation benefit. A separation benefit is a lump-sum payment of your employee required contributions plus accrued interest.
Vesting. If your WRS employment began on or after January 1, 1990 and terminated before April 24, 1998, to be vested you must have some WRS creditable service in at least five separate calendar years. Individuals hired other than these dates are immediately vested.
Disability Benefits. If you become permanently and totally disabled while employed under the WRS you may qualify for disability benefits.
Death Benefits. If you die before you begin receiving a WRS retirement or disability annuity, a death benefit will be payable from your WRS account. Once an employee applies for an annuity, death benefits are based on the annuity option selected at retirement.
Additional Contributions. As long as you remain employed under the WRS you may make additional contributions to your WRS account. Additional contributions increase your retirement account and may be used to purchase qualifying or forfeited creditable service.
Buying Creditable Service. While you are actively employed under the WRS, you may be eligible to buy creditable WRS service, which will increase the benefits for which you are eligible when you terminate employment. There are only certain types of service that you can buy, and the most common are the six-month qualifying period (applies only to classified employees who began WRS employment before 1973) and WRS service forfeited by withdrawing your employee contributions.
How Divorce Can Affect Your WRS Benefits. If your marriage is legally terminated, the court can award up to 50% of your WRS account or annuity to your former spouse through a "Qualified Domestic Relations Order" (QDRO). A WRS account or annuity can be divided if the divorce occurred after January 1, 1982.