Wisconsin Administrative Code Department of Employee Trust Funds
The Wisconsin Administrative Code, Department of Employee Trust Funds (ETF), comprises the regulations that govern the various benefit programs administered by the Wisconsin Department of Employee Trust Funds. The ETF is a non-cabinet state agency responsible for overseeing the Wisconsin Retirement System (WRS) and other related benefit programs for current and former public employees, retirees, and their beneficiaries in Wisconsin.
The administrative rules in the Wisconsin Administrative Code for ETF cover a wide range of topics related to these benefits. You'll typically find these rules organized into various chapters. While I cannot list every single rule, here are the primary areas covered:
I. Wisconsin Retirement System (WRS) - Retirement Benefits:
These rules are fundamental to how the WRS operates and how retirement benefits are calculated and administered. They cover:
Eligibility for participation: Who is covered by the WRS (state employees, local government employees, teachers, police, firefighters, etc.).
Contributions: How contributions are made by both employees and employers.
Vesting: The requirements for becoming vested in the system and eligible for a retirement annuity.
Benefit Calculation Methods: Detailed rules on how retirement annuities are calculated, including:
Formula Method: Based on years of service, final average earnings, and a formula factor.
Money Purchase Method: Based on employee and employer contributions plus investment earnings. The higher of the two is generally paid.
Annuity Options: Various payment options available to retirees (e.g., single life annuity, joint and survivor annuities).
Benefit Adjustments: Rules for annual adjustments to annuities.
Separation Benefits: Provisions for employees who leave public service before retirement.
Death Benefits: Rules regarding benefits paid to beneficiaries upon the death of an active or retired member.
Deferred Compensation Plan (WDC): Rules related to the supplemental deferred compensation plan offered to public employees.
Variable Trust Fund: Rules for members who choose to allocate a portion of their contributions to the Variable Trust Fund.
II. Group Insurance Programs:
ETF administers various insurance programs for public employees and retirees, and the administrative code outlines the rules for each:
Group Health Insurance Program:
Eligibility: Who is eligible for coverage (active employees, retirees, dependents).
Enrollment: Procedures for enrolling in health plans.
Premiums: Rules regarding premium payments and employer/employee contributions.
Plan Options: Provisions for the various health plans offered (e.g., HMOs, PPOs).
Continuation of Coverage (COBRA): Rules for extending coverage after a qualifying event.
Claims and Appeals: Procedures for submitting claims and appealing decisions.
Group Life Insurance Program:
Eligibility and Coverage Levels: Rules for basic and supplemental life insurance.
Beneficiary Designations: Procedures for designating and changing beneficiaries.
Claims: How death benefit claims are processed.
Income Continuation Insurance (ICI):
Eligibility: For short-term and long-term disability income protection.
Benefits: Calculation of benefits and duration of payments.
Claims Process: Procedures for filing and reviewing disability claims.
III. Disability Benefits:
Beyond Income Continuation Insurance, the ETF also oversees specific disability retirement benefits:
Disability Retirement Benefits (WRS):
Eligibility: Rules for members who become disabled and can no longer perform their duties, allowing them to receive a WRS annuity before normal retirement age.
Medical Requirements: Criteria for determining disability.
Annual Requirements: Procedures for annual earnings statements and medical recertification to ensure continued eligibility.
Duty Disability and Survivor Benefits:
Specific to Protective Occupations: Rules for police officers, firefighters, and other protective occupation employees who become disabled due to job-related injury or illness.
Benefit Calculation and Offsets: How these benefits are calculated, considering other income sources.
Long-Term Disability Insurance (LTDI): Rules for this specific long-term disability program.
IV. Other Programs and General Administration:
Employee Reimbursement Accounts (ERAs) and Commuter Benefits: Rules for pre-tax deduction programs for medical, dependent care, and transportation expenses.
Social Security Coverage: ETF serves as the designated Social Security agent for Wisconsin public employers.
Appeals and Hearings: Procedures for members to appeal ETF decisions.
Record Keeping: Requirements for employers and members regarding benefit records.
Actuarial Assumptions: Rules related to the actuarial valuations that determine the financial health of the WRS.
Where to Find the Rules:
The official and most up-to-date source for the Wisconsin Administrative Code, Department of Employee Trust Funds, is typically found on the Wisconsin State Legislature's website or the Wisconsin Department of Administration's Revisor of Statutes Bureau website, which publishes the full administrative code. The ETF's own website (etf.wi.gov) also provides extensive information, summaries of rules, handbooks, and forms that are based on these administrative code provisions.
It's crucial to refer to the official published administrative code for the precise legal language of these regulations, as summaries on agency websites are for informational purposes and may not capture every detail or recent amendment.
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