Wyoming Statutes

Wyo. Stat. § 9-3-421 (2026)

Death benefits; monthly benefit option; refund of

✓ current as of May 2026
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excess employee contributions plus interest; medical insurance
premiums.

     (a) If a member dies before retirement under the system,
except as provided in subsection (e) of this section, the
member's account plus an additional amount equal to the member's
account shall be paid to the member's designated beneficiaries,
or in the absence of designated beneficiaries to his estate. If
the member is vested, instead of a lump sum payment, a
beneficiary may elect to receive the actuarial equivalent of the
lump sum of any benefit for life which is available to a retired
member as provided in this article. A beneficiary, who is the
surviving spouse of the deceased member and who elects to
receive the actuarial equivalent of the lump sum, as a life
benefit may, within eighteen (18) months of the death of the
member, elect to receive the lump sum death benefit otherwise
provided in this subsection plus interest accumulated on that
amount less any payments received by the surviving spouse.

     (b) Unless otherwise provided by the benefit option
selected by a member pursuant to W.S. 9-3-420, if any member
receiving benefits or his beneficiary receiving retirement
benefits under this article dies before the total amount of
benefits paid to either the member or his beneficiary or both
equals the amount of the member's account at retirement, then
the excess, if any, shall be paid to any other named
beneficiary, if any, or to the member's estate.

     (c) A designated beneficiary of a member, by signed
affidavit, may request that medical insurance premiums be paid
from the member's account balance for a period not to exceed
four (4) months after the death of the member or until a benefit
option has been elected.

     (d) For purposes of determining a member's account under
subsections (a) through (c) of this section, if a member dies
before the member has vested under the system, the member's
account shall consist of the contributions and interest that
accrue in the manner for which contributions and interest accrue
for a member who is vested.

     (e) If a member initially employed on or after July 1,
2019 who is not vested and is not a current employee at the time
of death, which occurs before retirement under the system, only
the member's account shall be paid to the member's designated
beneficiaries, or in the absence of designated beneficiaries to
the member's estate.