40.24
40.24
Annuity options. 40.24(1)(1) Except as provided in
subs. (2) to
(4) and
(7), any participant who is eligible to receive a retirement annuity in the normal form may elect to receive the actuarial equivalent of the normal form annuity in any of the following optional annuity forms:
40.24(1)(a)
(a) A straight-life annuity terminating at the death of the annuitant.
40.24(1)(b)
(b) A straight life annuity with a guarantee of 60 monthly payments.
40.24(1)(c)
(c) An annuity payable for the life of the annuitant with a guarantee of 180 monthly payments.
40.24(1)(d)
(d) An annuity payable for the life of the annuitant, and after the death of the annuitant, monthly payments as elected by the participant of either 100% or 75% of the amount of the annuity paid to the annuitant to be continued to the named survivor, for life, who was designated by the participant in the original application for an annuity. If the participant's annuity effective date is on or after January 1, 1992, or, if the department specifies an earlier date that is not earlier than April 23, 1992, on or after the date specified by the department, and if the death of the named survivor occurs before the death of the annuitant and before the first day of the 61st month beginning after the annuity effective date, the annuity option under this paragraph shall be converted to the annuity option under
par. (a) and, beginning with the annuity payment for the first month beginning after the death of the named survivor, the annuity amount shall be the amount that the annuitant would be receiving on that date if the participant had elected the annuity option under
par. (a) in the original application for an annuity.
40.24(1)(e)
(e) A reduced annuity payable in the normal form or any of the optional life forms provided under this section, plus a temporary annuity payable monthly but terminating with the payment payable in the month following the month in which the annuitant attains age 62 or, if earlier, on the death of the annuitant. It is the intent of this option that so far as is practicable the amounts of the life annuity and temporary annuity shall be determined so that the annuitant's total anticipated benefits from the fund and from his or her primary OASDHI benefit will be the same each month both before and after attainment of age 62.
40.24(1)(f)
(f) From accumulated additional contributions made under
s. 40.05 (1) (a) 5. only, an annuity certain payable for and terminating after the number of months specified by the applicant, regardless of whether the applicant dies before or after the number of months specified, provided that the monthly amount of the annuity certain is at least equal to the minimum amount established under
s. 40.25 (1) (a). Subject to the period of distribution required under
s. 40.23 (4) (b) 2., the number of months specified shall not exceed 180 and shall not be less than 24. If the death of the annuitant occurs prior to the expiration of the certain period, the remaining payments shall be made in accordance with
s. 40.73 (2) without regard to any other annuity payments payable to the beneficiary. An annuity under this paragraph may be initiated prior to any other annuity amount provided under this subchapter and prior to age 55 if all other qualifications for receiving an annuity payment are met.
40.24(1)(g)
(g) Any one optional life annuity form provided by rule.
40.24(2)
(2) The department may modify any optional annuity form prescribed in
sub. (1) (a) to
(f) by rule as necessary to conform to federal regulations.
40.24(3)
(3) Any participant specified under
sub. (1) (intro.) may elect to receive the amount provided by accumulated additional contributions in a different optional form than the balance of the annuity.
40.24(4)
(4) Any optional annuity form under this section shall be based on actuarial equivalent values with due regard to selection against the fund, shall not provide a greater monthly amount payable to others upon the death of the participant than the amount which would have been payable to the participant if the participant had continued to live and shall not be changed after the effective date of the annuity unless the participant's request for the change is received by the department within 60 days after the date on which the first annuity check, share draft or other draft is issued or funds are otherwise transferred.
40.24(5)
(5) An annuity in a form other than the normal form shall be the actuarial equivalent of the annuity in the normal form if, on the effective date of the annuity, the annuity has the same single-sum present value as the annuity in the normal form, as calculated by the department according to methods and assumptions specified by the actuary.
40.24(6)
(6) If a participant's annuity is not effective until after the earlier of the participant's normal retirement date under
s. 40.02 (42) (a) to
(d) or the date on which the participant attains the age of 62 years and the participant elects an optional annuity form, the monthly amount of annuity provided by conversion of the benefit computed under
s. 40.23 (2m) (e) to the optional form elected shall not be less than the monthly amount of annuity which would have been paid had the participant retired on the earlier of the participant's normal retirement date under
s. 40.02 (42) (a) to
(d) or the date on which the participant attains the age of 62 years and elected the same optional form of annuity and the same beneficiary. It shall be assumed for purposes of calculating the amount of an annuity under this subsection that all of the participant's earned annuity was earned prior to the participant's normal retirement date, but the department shall use the beneficiary's actual age on the effective date of the annuity.
40.24(7)(a)(a) Any participant who has been married to the same spouse for at least one year immediately preceding the participant's annuity effective date shall elect the annuity option under
sub. (1) (d), the annuity option under
sub. (1) (e), if the reduced annuity under
sub. (1) (e) is payable in an optional life form provided under
sub. (1) (d), or an annuity option in a form provided by rule, if the annuity is payable for life with monthly payments of at least 75% of the amount of the annuity to be continued to the beneficiary, for life, upon the death of the participant, and the participant shall designate the spouse as the beneficiary, unless the participant's application for a retirement annuity in a different optional annuity form is signed by both the participant and the participant's spouse or unless the participant establishes to the satisfaction of the department that, by reason of absence or other inability, the spouse's signature may not be obtained. This subsection does not apply to any of the following:
40.24(7)(a)1.
1. Participants whose applications for a retirement annuity specify an annuity effective date before August 1, 1986.
40.24(7)(a)2.
2. That portion of a disability annuity which, under
s. 40.63 (8) (d), is not eligible for election of an annuity option by the participant.
40.24(7)(a)4.
4. Benefits paid from accumulated additional contributions.
40.24(7)(a)5.
5. Benefits payable to a beneficiary from a deceased participant's account.
40.24(7)(b)
(b) In administering this subsection, the secretary may require the participant to provide the department with a certification of the participant's marital status and of the validity of the spouse's signature. If a participant is exempted from the requirements under
par. (a) on the basis of a certification which the department or a court subsequently determines to be invalid, the liability of the fund and the department shall be limited to a conversion of annuity options at the time the certification is determined to be invalid. The conversion shall be from the present value of the annuity in the optional form originally elected by the participant to an annuity with the same present value but in the optional form under
sub. (1) (d) and with monthly payments of 100% of the amount of the annuity paid to the annuitant to be continued to the spouse beneficiary.
40.25
40.25
Lump sum payments. 40.25(1)(a)(a) If all other requirements for payment of a retirement annuity are met and if the retirement annuity in the normal form which could be provided under
s. 40.23 is equal to or less than $100 monthly for a benefit with an effective date that is on or after April 23, 1994, but before the end of the calendar year of 1993 or, for a benefit with an effective date in a subsequent calendar year, the monthly amount applied under this paragraph for the previous calendar year increased by the salary index and ignoring fractions of the dollar, the then present value, including additional contributions, of the annuity shall be paid in a single sum instead of as an annuity. The additional contribution accumulations shall not be included in determining whether a single sum should be paid if the optional form provided by
s. 40.24 (1) (f) or a lump sum under
sub. (4) is selected.
40.25(1)(b)
(b) If all other requirements for payment of a retirement annuity are met and if the retirement annuity in the normal form which could be provided under
s. 40.23 from all available accumulations and credits, other than accumulations from additional contributions, is more than $100 and less than $200 monthly for a benefit with an effective date that is on or after April 23, 1994, but before the end of the calendar year of 1993 or, for a benefit with an effective date in a subsequent calendar year, the monthly amounts applied under this paragraph for the previous calendar year increased by the salary index and ignoring fractions of the dollar, then any participant may elect to receive, in lieu of the annuity, the then present value, including additional contributions, of the annuity in a single sum.
40.25(2)
(2) Subject to
sub. (2t), if all requirements for payment of a retirement annuity are met except attainment of age 55 or age 50 for protective occupation participants, a separation benefit may be paid, if the participant's written application for a separation benefit is received by the department prior to the participant's 55th birthday or 50th birthday for protective occupation participants, in an amount equal to the additional and employee required contribution accumulations of the participant on the date the application for a separation benefit is approved.
40.25(2t)
(2t) A protective occupation participant who is covered by the presumption under
s. 891.455 and who applied for a duty disability benefit under
s. 40.65 on or after May 12, 1998, may not be paid a separation benefit under
sub. (2) during the period in which he or she is receiving the duty disability benefit.
40.25(3)
(3) Upon administrative approval of payment of an amount under either
sub. (1) or
(2), the participant's account shall be closed and there shall be no further right, interest or claim on the part of the former participant to any benefit from the Wisconsin retirement system except as provided by
sub. (5) and
s. 40.285 (2) (a). Any former participant who is subsequently employed by any participating employer shall be treated as a new participating employee for all purposes of this chapter. New accumulations of contributions and credits and the computation of any future benefits shall bear no relationship to any accumulations and credits paid as single sums under
sub. (1) or
(2).
40.25(3m)
(3m) A participant's application for a lump sum payment under
sub. (1) (b) or
(2), filed after May 7, 1994, shall be signed by both the participant and the participant's spouse, if the participant has been married to that spouse for at least one year immediately preceding the date the application is filed. The department may promulgate rules that allow for the waiver of the requirements of this subsection for a situation in which, by reason of absence or incompetency, the spouse's signature may not be obtained. This subsection does not apply to any benefits paid from accumulated additional contributions.
40.25(4)
(4) If all the requirements for payment of a retirement annuity or a separation benefit are met, except filing of an application, a participant may elect that the accumulation from the participant's additional contributions made under
s. 40.05 (1) (a) 5. be paid as a lump sum in lieu of an annuity from those additional contributions.
40.25(5)(a)(a) Rights and creditable service forfeited under
sub. (3) or
s. 40.04 (4) (a) 3. shall be reestablished if the participant receives the benefit resulting in the forfeiture after being discharged and is subsequently reinstated to a position with the participating employer by court order, arbitration award or compromise settlement as a result of an appeal of the discharge.
40.25(5)(b)
(b) The full amount of the benefit paid, plus interest at the effective rate, shall be repaid to the Wisconsin retirement system by the employer of an employee whose rights and creditable service are reestablished under
par. (a) within 60 days after the effective date of the employee's reinstatement. The amount repaid by the employer under this paragraph shall be deducted by the employer from any payment due the employee as a result of the resolution of the appeal or, if that amount is insufficient, the balance shall be deducted from the employee's earnings except the amount deducted from each earnings payment shall be not less than 10% nor more than 25% of the earnings payment. If the employee terminates employment the employer shall notify the department of the amount not yet repaid, including any interest due, at the same time it notifies the department of the termination of employment, and the department shall repay to the employer the balance of the amount due from retentions made under
s. 40.08 (4). The employer may charge interest at a rate not in excess of the current year's assumed rate on any amount unpaid at the end of any calendar year after the year of reinstatement.
40.25 Cross-reference
Cross Reference: See also s.
ETF 20.18, Wis. adm. code.
40.26
40.26
Reentry into service. 40.26(1)
(1) Except as provided in
ss. 40.05 (2) (g) 2. and
40.23 (1) (am), if a participant receiving a retirement annuity, or a disability annuitant who has attained his or her normal retirement date, receives earnings that are subject to
s. 40.05 (1) or that would be subject to
s. 40.05 (1) except for the exclusion specified in
s. 40.22 (2) (L), the annuity shall be terminated and no annuity payment shall be payable after the month in which the participant files with the department a written election to be included within the provisions of the Wisconsin retirement system as a participating employee.
40.26(2)
(2) Upon termination of an annuity under
sub. (1), the retirement account of the participant whose annuity is so terminated shall be reestablished on the following basis:
40.26(2)(a)
(a) The then present value of any portion of the terminated annuity which was originally provided by employee or employer additional contributions shall be credited to the corresponding additional contribution account.
40.26(2)(b)
(b) The amount of the annuity payments, excluding any portion originally provided by additional contributions, which would have been paid under the terminated annuity, if the annuity had been a straight life annuity, prior to the participant's normal retirement date or prior to the annuity termination date, whichever would first occur, shall be credited to a memorandum account which is subject to
s. 40.04 (4) (a) 2.,
2g. and
2m. and
(c). If the annuity was recomputed under
s. 40.08 (1m) because of a qualified domestic relations order, the memorandum account established under this paragraph shall be adjusted as provided under
s. 40.08 (1m) (f) 2.
40.26(2)(c)
(c) Except as provided in
pars. (a) and
(b), the retirement account shall be reestablished as if the terminated annuity had never been effective, including crediting of interest and of any contributions made and creditable service earned during the period the annuity was in force.
40.26(3)(a)(a) Upon subsequent retirement and application for an annuity, the annuity of a former annuitant shall be recomputed, except as provided by
pars. (b),
(bm) and
(c), as an original annuity, based upon the participant's attained age on the effective date of the recomputed annuity, in an optional form as elected by the participant under
s. 40.24.
40.26(3)(b)
(b) Except as provided in
par. (bm), if changes in the statutes after the effective date of the original annuity would result in a change in the amount of an annuity recomputed under this subsection, the statutory changes shall not apply to any benefit based on creditable service earned prior to the effective date of the original annuity and the laws in effect as of that original effective date apply.
40.26(3)(bm)
(bm) If a former annuitant becomes a participating employee and accumulates at least 3 continuous years of creditable service before subsequent retirement and application for an annuity under this subsection, and if changes in the statutes after the effective date of the original annuity would result in a change in the amount of an annuity recomputed under this subsection, the annuity of the former annuitant shall be recomputed as follows:
40.26(3)(bm)1.
1. For creditable service earned after termination of the original annuity, the annuity shall be recomputed as provided under
par. (a).
40.26(3)(bm)2.
2. For creditable service earned before the effective date of the original annuity, the annuity shall be recomputed based on the laws in effect as of that original effective date, except that the portion of creditable service earned under this subdivision which is in an amount equal to the amount of creditable service earned under
subd. 1. shall be recomputed as provided under
par. (a).
40.26(3)(c)
(c) The amount of the recomputed annuity shall be reduced by the amount of annuity which could be provided, under the actuarial tables in effect on the annuity effective date, by the balance in the memorandum account established under
sub. (2) (b) and that account shall be closed out.
40.26(4)
(4) Upon subsequent termination of all participating employment of an annuitant who receives compensation subject to
s. 40.05 (1), but whose compensation did not exceed the level specified in
sub. (1) which would have required termination of the original annuity, any contributions made under
s. 40.05 (1) or
(2) (g) 1. based on the additional employment shall upon application be paid the annuitant on the basis specified in
s. 40.25 (2) and
(3) without regard to the age requirement and without any change in the original annuity.
40.26(5)
(5) If a participant applies for an annuity or lump sum payment during the period in which less than 30 days have elapsed between the termination of employment with a participating employer and becoming a participating employee with any participating employer, all of the following shall apply:
40.26(5)(b)
(b) The participant may not receive any benefit under this chapter on which the receipt of an annuity is a condition.
40.26(5)(c)
(c) Any annuity or lump sum payment made to the participant shall be considered to have been made in error and is subject to
s. 40.08 (4). The sum of the payments made in error shall be credited to a memorandum account. The memorandum account is subject to
s. 40.04 (4) (a) 2.,
2g. and
2m. and
(c). If the annuity was recomputed under
s. 40.08 (1m), the memorandum account established under this paragraph shall be adjusted pursuant to
s. 40.08 (1m) (f) 2. The retirement account of a participant paid in error, and whose annuity was terminated, shall be reestablished as if the terminated annuity had never been effective, including the crediting of interest.
40.27
40.27
Post-retirement adjustments. 40.27(1)
(1)
Supplemental benefits. Any person who received a supplemental benefit under s.
41.23, 1979 stats., s.
42.49 (10), 1979 stats., or s.
42.82, 1979 stats., is eligible to continue receiving a supplemental benefit in the amounts determined under s.
41.23, 1979 stats., s.
42.49 (10), 1979 stats., or s.
42.82, 1979 stats. Any portion of a benefit payable under
s. 40.19 (4) (f) which was not granted in accordance with the law in effect at the time of the granting shall not be subject to this subsection and shall not be eligible for a supplemental benefit.
40.27(1)(a)
(a) Any benefit payable by virtue of this subsection in excess of the amounts payable under other provisions of this chapter shall be paid from and shall be subject to the continuation of the appropriation made by
s. 20.515 (1) (a).
40.27(1)(b)
(b) Determinations of eligibility and the amount of any payment to be made under this subsection or
sub. (1m) or
(3) shall be made by the department, and shall be certified by the department for payment in the same manner as for payments from the Wisconsin retirement system.
40.27(1)(c)
(c) No payment shall be made under this subsection or
sub. (1m) or
(3), nor shall any right accrue under this subsection or
sub. (1m) or
(3), for or after any month following termination of the annuity on which the supplement was based.
40.27(1)(d)
(d) Benefits under this subsection and
subs. (1m) and
(3) shall be payable to the surviving beneficiary, who receives an annuity, of eligible persons.
40.27(1m)
(1m) Additional supplemental benefits. Any person who received an annuity for September 1974 from the Wisconsin retirement system shall be eligible to receive all of the following:
40.27(1m)(a)
(a) The monthly annuities for which that person was eligible and which that person received for September 1974.
40.27(1m)(b)
(b) An amount to be paid from the appropriation account under
s. 20.515 (1) (a), subject to the continuation of that appropriation, equal to 4% times 5 years times either $200 or the initial monthly annuity, excluding amounts provided from additional deposits, whichever is smaller.
40.27(2)
(2) Fixed annuity reserve surplus distributions. Surpluses in the fixed annuity reserve established under
s. 40.04 (6) and
(7) shall be distributed by the board if the distribution will result in at least a 0.5 percent increase in the amount of annuities in force, except as otherwise provided by the department by rule, on recommendation of the actuary, as follows:
40.27(2)(a)
(a) The distributions shall be expressed as percentage increases in the amount of the monthly annuity in force, including prior distributions of surpluses but not including any amount paid from funds other than the fixed annuity reserve fund, preceding the effective date of the distribution. For purposes of this subsection, annuities in force include any disability annuity suspended because the earnings limitation had been exceeded by that annuitant in that year.
40.27(2)(b)
(b) Prorated percentages based on the annuity effective date may be applied to annuities with effective dates during the calendar year preceding the effective date of the distribution, as provided by rule, but no other distinction may be made among the various types of annuities payable from the fixed annuity reserve.
40.27(2)(c)
(c) The distributions shall not be offset against any other benefit being received but shall be paid in full, nor shall any other benefit being received be reduced by the distributions. The annuity reserve surplus distributions authorized under this subsection may be revoked by the board in part or in total as to future payments upon recommendation of the actuary if a deficit occurs in the fixed annuity reserves and such deficit would result in a 0.5 percent or greater decrease in the amount of annuities in force, except as otherwise provided by the department by rule.
40.27(2)(d)
(d) Notwithstanding
s. 40.03 (2) (i),
(7) (d), and
(8) (d), the department may promulgate rules under this subsection without the approval of the teachers retirement board and the Wisconsin retirement board.
40.27(3)
(3) Additional supplemental benefit adjustment. Beginning on November 1, 1997, any person who is eligible to receive supplemental benefits under
subs. (1) and
(1m) shall be eligible to receive an additional supplemental benefit, to be paid from the appropriation account under
s. 20.515 (1) (a), in an amount equal to the amount by which the supplemental benefits paid under
subs. (1) and
(1m) are exceeded by the supplemental benefit that the person was eligible to receive on October 1, 1997, from the distribution paid under s.
40.04 (3) (e) 1. c., 1995 stats., as affected by adjustments under
sub. (2) made after 1987, less any increase to the person's base annuity under this chapter that results from any equitable distribution made by the board under the judgment in Wisconsin Retired Teachers Ass'n v. Employee Trust Funds Bd.,
207 Wis. 2d 1 (1997), without regard to adjustments to
sub. (2).
40.28
40.28
Variable benefits. 40.28(1)(1) Any annuity provided to a participant whose accounts include credits segregated for a variable annuity shall consist of a fixed annuity and a variable annuity.
40.28(1)(a)
(a) The initial amount of the variable annuity shall be the amount which can be provided on the basis of the actuarial tables in effect on the effective date of the annuity by the following amounts, if otherwise available:
40.28(1)(a)1.
1. The amount of the additional contribution accumulations reserved for a variable annuity as of the date the annuity begins;
40.28(1)(a)2.
2. The amount equal to 200% of employee required contribution accumulations reserved for a variable annuity as of the date the annuity begins; and
40.28(1)(a)3.
3. The amount equal, as of the date the annuity begins, to the accumulated prior service credits reserved for the participant for a variable annuity within the employer accumulation account, together with the net gain or loss credited to the accumulations.
40.28(1)(b)
(b) The initial amount of the fixed annuity shall be the excess of the total annuity payable, as determined under
s. 40.23, over the amount of the variable annuity.
40.28(2)
(2) Whenever the balance in the variable annuity reserve, as of December 31 of any year, exceeds or is less than the then present value of all variable annuities in force, determined in accordance with the rate of interest and approved actuarial tables then in effect, by at least 2% of the present value of all variable annuities in force, the amount of each variable annuity payment shall be proportionately increased or decreased, disregarding fractional percentages, and effective on a date determined by rule, so as to reduce the variance between the balance of the variable annuity reserve and the present value of variable annuities to less than one percent.
40.28(3)
(3) Except as otherwise specifically provided, benefits based on variable accumulations shall be determined on the same basis and paid in the same manner and at the same time as benefits based on accumulations not so segregated insofar as practicable considering the nature of variable annuities.
40.28 History
History: 1981 c. 96.
40.285
40.285
Purchase of creditable service. 40.285(1)(a)(a)
Deadline for purchase of creditable service. An application to purchase creditable service must be received by the department, on a form provided by the department, from an applicant who is a participating employee on the day that the department receives the application.
40.285(1)(b)
(b)
Calculation of creditable service. Creditable service purchased under this section shall be calculated in an amount equal to the year and fractions of a year to the nearest one-hundredth of a year.
40.285(1)(c)
(c)
Use of creditable service. Credit for service purchased under this section is added to a participant's total creditable service, but may not be treated as service for a particular annual earnings period and does not confer any other rights or benefits.
