40.08 Benefit assignments and corrections.

(1) Exemptions. The benefits payable to, or other rights and interests of, any member, beneficiary or distributee of any estate under any of the benefit plans administered by the department, including insurance payments, shall be exempt from any tax levied by the state or any subdivision of the state and shall not be assignable, either in law or equity, or be subject to execution, levy, attachment, garnishment or other legal process except as specifically provided in this section. The exemption from taxation under this section shall not apply with respect to any tax on income.

(1c) Withholding of annuity and certain benefit payments. Notwithstanding sub. (1), any monthly annuity paid under s. 40.23, 40.24, 40.25 (1) or (2), or 40.63 and any benefit paid under s. 40.62 or duty disability payment paid under s. 40.65 is subject to s. 767.75. The board and any member or agent thereof and the department and any employee or agent thereof are immune from civil liability for any act or omission while performing official duties relating to withholding any payment pursuant to s. 767.75.

(1g) Withholding of lump sum payments. Notwithstanding sub. (1), any lump sum payment made under s. 40.23, 40.24, 40.25 (1) or (2), or 40.63 is subject to s. 49.852. The board and any member or agent thereof and the department and any employee or agent thereof are immune from civil liability for any act or omission while performing official duties relating to withholding any lump sum payment pursuant to s. 49.852.

(1m) Division of benefits.

(a) Notwithstanding sub. (1), a participant's accumulated rights and benefits under the Wisconsin retirement system shall be divided pursuant to a qualified domestic relations order only if the order provides for a division as specified in this subsection.

(b) The creditable service and the value of the participant's account that are subject to division on the decree date shall be equal to one of the following:

1. The creditable service and the dollar amounts credited to all parts of the participant's account through the day before the decree date, if the participant is not an annuitant on the decree date.

2. The present value of the annuity being paid if the participant is an annuitant.

(c) The present value of the annuity specified in par. (b) 2. shall be computed in accordance with the actuarial tables then in effect and shall consider the number of remaining guaranteed payments, if any. If the participant is an annuitant who is not receiving an annuity from all parts of the participant's accounts, then par. (b) 1. applies to those parts of the account from which the annuity is not being received.

(d) The amount computed under par. (b) shall be divided between the participant and the alternate payee in the percentages specified in the qualified domestic relations order. The participant shall have no further right, interest or claim on that portion of the participant's creditable service and account balances or annuity amount allocated to the alternate payee.

(e) The alternate payee share of the amount computed under par. (b) shall be distributed to the alternate payee or, in the case of an individual adjudged mentally incompetent, to a named guardian under sub. (9), as follows:

1. The creditable service and amounts computed under par. (b) 1. shall be transferred to a separate account in the name of the alternate payee.

2. Except as provided in subds. 3. and 4., the control and ownership rights of the alternate payee over his or her share of the account shall be the same as if the alternate payee were a participant who had ceased to be a participating employee but had not applied for a benefit under s. 40.23 or 40.25 on the decree date or the date that the participant terminated covered employment, whichever is earlier.

3. If par. (b) 1. applies and the effective date of the alternate payee's benefit is after the date that the participant would have met the age requirement for a retirement annuity under s. 40.23, the benefits for the alternate payee shall be determined under s. 40.23. The alternate payee's benefits shall be computed using the participant's final average earnings on the first day of the annual earnings period in which the alternate payee's annuity is effective. If the effective date of the alternate payee's benefit is before the date that the participant would have met the age requirement for a retirement annuity under s. 40.23, the alternate payee's benefits shall be determined under s. 40.25 (2).

4. An alternate payee, who elects an annuity option, may only elect among the options under s. 40.24 that provide payments that are calculated only on the basis of the age of the alternate payee.

(f) After division of the participant's account under par. (b), the account and any benefits payable shall be adjusted as follows:

1. Subject to subd. 3., if the participant is not an annuitant on the decree date, an amount equal to the total of the alternate payee share distributed under par. (e), including creditable service, shall be subtracted from the participant's account.

2. Subject to subd. 3., if the participant is an annuitant on the decree date, the annuity shall be recomputed using the total value of the participant's account determined under par. (b) reduced by the total of the alternate payee share transferred under par. (e) 1., in accordance with the actuarial tables in effect and using the participant's age on the decree date. The decree date shall be the effective date of recomputation. If the optional annuity form before division of the participant's account under par. (b) was not a joint and survivor annuity with the alternate payee as the named survivor, the same annuity option with no change in the remaining guarantee period, if any, shall be continued upon recomputation to the participant. The present value of the alternate payee's share of the annuity after division shall be paid to the alternate payee as a straight life annuity based on the age of the alternate payee on the decree date. The alternate payee's annuity shall have the same remaining guarantee period, if any, as the participant's annuity. If the optional annuity form before division of the participant's account under par. (b) was a joint and survivor annuity with the alternate payee as the named survivor, the present value of the annuity after division shall be paid to both the participant and the alternate payee as a straight life annuity based upon their respective ages on the decree date. If the participant's account is reestablished under s. 40.63 (10) after the decree date, the amounts and creditable service reestablished shall be reduced by an amount equal to the percentage of the alternate payee share computed under this subdivision.

3. For any participant whose marriage is terminated by a court during the period that begins on January 1, 1982, and ends on April 27, 1990, and for whom the department receives a qualified domestic relations order after May 2, 1998, the division of benefits may not apply to any benefits paid to the participant before the date on which the department receives the qualified domestic relations order.

(g) If par. (b) 1. applies, eligibility for benefit rights that are available only after attainment of a specified length of service shall be determined based on the service that would have been credited, if the account had not been divided under this subsection, to the participant's account on the effective date of the participant's benefit and on the effective date of the alternate payee's benefit for purposes of determining the participant's and alternate payee's benefit rights, respectively. However, no creditable service may be added to the alternate payee's account under this paragraph, and the participant shall not receive creditable service under this paragraph, for any service that has been transferred to the alternate payee's account. This paragraph applies only if all eligibility requirements, other than length-of-service requirements, for the benefit rights being established have been met.

(h) Notwithstanding pars. (b) to (g), if the participant is both an annuitant and is receiving a benefit under s. 40.65 that is effective on or before the decree date, the adjustments specified in s. 40.65 (5) (b) 4. shall be computed as though the participant's account had not been divided.

(i) The department, its employees, the fund and the board are immune from any liability for any act or omission under this subsection in accordance with a qualified domestic relations order and may not be required to take any action or make any notification as part of the exercise of ownership rights granted under this subsection.

(j) This subsection applies to qualified domestic relations orders issued on or after January 1, 1982, that provide for divisions of the accumulated rights and benefits of participants whose marriages have been terminated by a court on or after January 1, 1982.

(k)

1. Nothing in this subsection authorizes a court to revise or modify a judgment or order with respect to a final division of property under s. 767.61, in contravention of s. 767.59 (1c) (b).

2. Notwithstanding subd. 1., a court may revise or modify a judgment or order specified under subd. 1. for participants whose marriages were terminated by a court on or after January 1, 1982, and before April 28, 1990, but only with respect to providing for payment in accordance with a qualified domestic relations order of benefits under the Wisconsin retirement system that are already divided under the judgment or order.

(1r) Delinquent state tax obligations. Notwithstanding sub. (1) and s. 40.01 (2), the department of revenue may attach any lump sum payment or monthly annuity paid under s. 40.23, 40.24, 40.25 (1) or (2), or 40.63 to satisfy delinquent tax obligations. The board and any member or agent thereof and the department and any employee or agent thereof are immune from civil liability for any act or omission while performing official duties relating to withholding any payment under this subsection.

(1t) Payment of restitution for certain misconduct. Notwithstanding sub. (1), the department may withhold amounts from any lump sum payment or annuity paid under s. 40.23, 40.24, 40.25 (1) or (2), or 40.63, as required by a restitution order under s. 973.20 (2). Notwithstanding s. 40.01 (2), the department shall deliver any amount withheld under this subsection in accordance with the restitution order issued under s. 973.20 (2). The board and any member or agent thereof and the department and any employee or agent thereof are immune from civil liability for any act or omission while performing official duties relating to withholding any payment under this subsection.

(1u) Deferred compensation plan assets. Notwithstanding sub. (1), a participant's accumulated assets held in an account in the deferred compensation plan established under subch. VII may be divided, in the manner provided by the deferred compensation board and under s. 40.80 (2r), pursuant to a domestic relations order, as defined under s. 40.80 (2r) (a).

(2) Insurance premiums.

(a) Insurance premiums shall be deducted from annuities for group insurance benefit plans as provided in s. 40.05 and, with the written consent of the annuitant, for premiums for group life and health insurance plans provided by the city of Milwaukee to former Milwaukee teachers if the annuity is sufficient.

(b) If permitted under a deferred compensation plan established under subch. VII, insurance premiums for health or long-term care insurance coverage for an eligible retired public safety officer may be deducted from an amount distributed under a deferred compensation plan and paid directly to an insurer.

(3) Waivers. Any participant, beneficiary, or distributee of any estate may waive, absolutely and without right of reconsideration or recovery, the right to or the payment of all or any portion of any benefit payable or to become payable under this chapter. The waiver shall be effective 30 days after it is received by the department or on the date specified in the waiver, if earlier. The waiver may be cancelled by the participant, beneficiary, or distributee in writing before the effective date.

(4) Retention of payments. Unless voluntarily repaid and except as limited by sub. (10), the department may retain out of any annuity or benefit an amount as the department in its discretion may determine, for the purpose of reimbursing the appropriate benefit plan accounts for a balance due under s. 40.25 (5) or for any money paid, plus interest at the assumed rate, unless the department sets a different rate by rule, to any person or estate, through misrepresentation, fraud, or error. Upon the request of the department any employer shall withhold from any sum payable by the employer to any person or estate and remit to the department any amount, plus interest at the assumed rate, unless the department sets a different rate by rule, which the department paid to the person or estate through misrepresentation, fraud, or error. Any amount, plus interest at the assumed rate, unless the department sets a different rate by rule, not recovered by the department from the employer may be procured by the department by action brought against the person or estate.

(5) Employer error.

(a) Whenever any sum becomes due to the department from any recipient as the result of incorrect or incomplete reporting by an employer and the sum cannot be recovered from the recipient, then the employer shall be charged with the sum.

(b) Any amount determined to be due under this subsection shall be due with the next payment by the employer under s. 40.06 and shall be subject to the penalties and collection procedures provided in s. 40.06 if not paid when due.

(6) Refunds.

(a) Notwithstanding s. 20.913, but subject to par. (b), the department may refund any money paid in error to the fund by or on behalf of a person who is not a participant.

(b) The department may not refund any money paid into the fund by an employer, but shall by rule credit the money to the employer.

(c) Except as provided in par. (d), money paid into the fund by an employer on behalf of a participant which exceeds the contribution limits under s. 40.32 may not be refunded to the employer, but the department shall by rule credit the money to the employer and the employer shall pay the participant the amount of the credit as additional wages or salary.

(d) Money paid into the fund by a participant which exceeds the contribution limits under s. 40.32 may be refunded directly to the participant if the department determines that the money was paid on an after-tax basis.

(e) In accordance with rules promulgated by the department, and at the rate of interest established by rule, the department may credit interest on moneys refunded or credited under this subsection.

(7) Overpayments and underpayments.

(a) Any overpayment or underpayment of a lump-sum payment under s. 40.25 or a death benefit which is less than 60 percent of the amount specified in s. 40.25 (1) (a) rounded to the next highest dollar amount, and any annuity payment error which is less than $2 per month may not be corrected but shall be credited or debited to the employer accumulation reserve or the appropriate insurance account. However, if the amount of unapplied additional contributions would increase an annuity payment by less than $2 but is more than 60 percent of the amount specified in s. 40.25 (1) (a) rounded to the next highest dollar amount, the unapplied additional contributions shall be paid to the annuitant as a lump sum.

(b) Any overpayment exceeding the limits in par. (a) to a person who cannot be located or which proves to be uncollectible and any underpayment exceeding the limits in par. (a) to a person who cannot be located may be written off 2 years after the underpayment or overpayment is discovered and credited or debited to the employer accumulation reserve or the appropriate insurance account.

(c) If an annuity underpayment exceeding the limits in par. (a) has not been corrected for at least 12 months, the payment to the annuitant to correct the underpayment shall include 0.4 percent interest on the amount of the underpayment for each full month during the period beginning on the date on which the underpayment occurred and ending on the date on which the underpayment is corrected.

(8) Abandonment.

(a) Benefits provided under this chapter shall be considered abandoned as follows:

1. Any potential primary beneficiary under s. 40.02 (8), other than an estate, who has not applied for any benefit payable under this chapter as a result of the death of the participant and whom the department cannot locate by reasonable efforts, as determined by the department by rule, within one year after the death of the participant shall be presumed to have predeceased the participant and all other potential beneficiaries. Thereafter, if the department is unable to locate any resulting subsequent beneficiary within 6 months, all beneficiaries under s. 40.02 (8) (a) 1. and 2. shall be presumed to have predeceased the participant and the department shall pay all benefits payable under this chapter as a result of the death of the participant to the participant's estate in a lump sum.

2. If an estate that is determined by the department to be a beneficiary is closed prior to the payment of benefits payable under this chapter as a result of the death of the participant and the estate is not reopened within 6 months after the department notifies the estate that a benefit is payable, the benefit shall be considered irrevocably abandoned and shall be transferred to the employer accumulation reserve, unless the estate was the designated beneficiary under s. 40.02 (8) (a) 1.

2m. If the estate was the designated beneficiary under s. 40.02 (8) (a) 1. and the estate is closed prior to the payment of benefits payable under this chapter as a result of death of the participant and the estate is not reopened within 6 months after the department notifies the estate that a benefit is payable, the department shall pay the benefit to a beneficiary as determined under s. 40.02 (8) (a) 2. If the department is unable to locate any such beneficiary within 6 months, all such beneficiaries shall be presumed to have predeceased the participant and the benefit shall be considered irrevocably abandoned and shall be transferred to the employer accumulation reserve.

3. A participant, other than a participating employee or annuitant, whom the department cannot locate by reasonable efforts, with such efforts beginning by the end of the month in which the participant attains, or would have attained, the age of 65, shall be considered to have abandoned all benefits under the Wisconsin retirement system on the date on which the participant attains, or would have attained, the age of 70. The department shall close the participant's account and shall transfer the moneys in the account to the employer accumulation reserve. The department shall restore the participant's account and shall debit the employer accumulation reserve accordingly if the participant subsequently applies for retirement benefits under this chapter before attaining the age of 80.

4. The former spouse or domestic partner of a participant who is an alternate payee and whom the department cannot locate by reasonable efforts, with such efforts beginning by the end of the month in which the participant attains, or would have attained, the age of 65, shall be considered to have abandoned all benefits under the Wisconsin retirement system on the date on which the participant attains, or would have attained, the age of 70. The department shall close the alternate payee's account and shall transfer the moneys in the account to the employer accumulation reserve. The department shall restore the alternate payee's account and shall debit the employer accumulation reserve accordingly if the alternate payee subsequently applies for retirement benefits under this chapter before the participant attains or would have attained the age of 80.

5. All presumptions under this paragraph are conclusive upon payment of the benefit payable under this chapter as a result of the death of the participant to any qualifying person, estate or entity other than the employer accumulation reserve.

(b) All moneys or credits in an account for a person presumed to have died intestate, without heirs or beneficiary, or to be abandoned by the person under par. (a) shall be applied, at the end of the 5th calendar year in which notice is published under par. (c), to the employer accumulation reserve to reduce future funding requirements.

(c) The department shall publish a class 1 notice, under ch. 985, in the official state paper stating the names of persons presumed to have died intestate, without heirs or beneficiary, or whose accounts are presumed to be abandoned under par. (a), and the fact that a benefit will be paid, if applied for within the time limits under par. (a) and if the participant, alternate payee or other person offers proof satisfactory to the department that the participant, alternate payee or other person is entitled to the benefit. Such proof shall include, but is not limited to, evidence that the participant died and that the person is the beneficiary under s. 40.02 (8).

(d) If any person files a claim within 10 full calendar years after the publication of the notice under par. (c) and furnishes proof of ownership of any amounts in an inactive account the claim shall be paid on the same basis as if no action had been taken under this section. The cost of the benefit shall be charged to the employer account credited under par. (b).

(e) Notwithstanding any other provision of the statutes any account subject to this subsection may, at the discretion of the department, be settled by any heirs of a deceased participant or beneficiary making application, on a form approved by the department, certifying the names of any other persons not known by the applicants to be deceased and known by the applicants to have an equal or superior claim to the account and certifying that the applicants have no knowledge of the whereabouts of any of the persons so named.

(f) Publication under par. (c) is not required if the present value of the benefit to which a person would have been entitled on attainment of age 70 is less than $100, in the calendar year of 1982 or, in each calendar year commencing after January 1, 1982, the applicable amount under this paragraph for the previous calendar year increased by the salary index for that year and ignoring any fraction of a dollar. The provisions of this subsection apply to inactive accounts subject to this paragraph as if publication had been made in the year the person would have attained age 70.

(9) Payments of benefits to minors and individuals found incompetent. In any case in which a benefit amount becomes payable to a minor or to an individual adjudicated incompetent, the department may waive guardianship proceedings, and pay the benefit to the person providing for or caring for the minor, or to the spouse or domestic partner, parent, or other relative by blood or adoption providing for or caring for the individual adjudicated incompetent.

(9m) Guardians. An application for a benefit, a designation of a beneficiary or any other document which has a long-term effect on a person's rights and benefits under this chapter and which requires a signature may be signed and filed by a guardian of the estate when accompanied by a photocopy or facsimile of an order of guardianship issued by a circuit court judge or a register in probate or a circuit court commissioner who is assigned the authority to issue such orders under s. 851.73 (1) (g).

(10) Limitations on corrections. Service credits granted and contribution, premium and benefit payments made under this chapter are not subject to correction unless correction is requested or made prior to the end of 7 full calendar years after the date of the alleged error or January 1, 1987, whichever is later, unless the alleged error is the result of fraud or unless another limitation is specifically provided by statute. This subsection does not prohibit correction of purely clerical errors in reporting or recording contributions, service and earnings.

(11) Assumed consent. The department, its employees, the fund, the employee trust fund board, the group insurance board and the deferred compensation board are held free from any liability for any money retained or paid in accordance with this section and the employee, participant or beneficiary shall be assumed to have assented and agreed to any disposition under this section of the money due.

(12) Court review. Notwithstanding s. 227.52, any action, decision or determination of the board, the Wisconsin retirement board, the teachers retirement board, the group insurance board or the deferred compensation board in an administrative proceeding shall be reviewable only by an action for certiorari in the circuit court for Dane County that is commenced by any party to the administrative proceeding, including the department, within 30 days after the date on which notice of the action, decision or determination is mailed to that party, and any party to the certiorari proceedings may appeal the decision of that court.

(13) Beneficiary designation. The department may not be required by a court order, or by any other action or proceeding, to enforce or otherwise monitor the beneficiary designation specified in a qualified domestic relations order.

(14) Rollovers to other retirement plans. If a participant who is entitled to receive a lump sum payment or a monthly annuity certain under s. 40.24 (1) (f) for which the participant has specified a term of less than 120 months or an annuity certain of less than 10 years in duration from the Wisconsin retirement system and who has an account established under any other retirement plan located in the United States so directs in writing, on a form prescribed by the department, the department shall pay the lump sum payment or the monthly annuity directly to the participant's account under that other retirement plan for credit under that other retirement plan. The department shall cease payment of the monthly annuity payments to the annuitant's account under the other retirement plan within 30 days of the written request of the annuitant or written notice of the annuitant's death. This subsection shall be applied in compliance with section 401 (a) (31) of the Internal Revenue Code pursuant to any applicable federal regulations or guidance adopted under the Internal Revenue Code.

History: 1981 c. 96, 391; 1983 a. 290; 1985 a. 182 s. 57; 1987 a. 309; 1989 a. 31, 218; 1991 a. 141, 152; 1995 a. 302, 414; 1997 a. 35, 110, 125, 191, 237; 1999 a. 162; 2001 a. 61; 2003 a. 320; 2005 a. 153, 387; 2005 a. 443 s. 265; 2007 a. 131 ss. 12 to 16, 26; 2007 a. 226; 2009 a. 28, 180; 2013 a. 20; 2015 a. 55; 2017 a. 364 s. 49; 2019 a. 71.

The limitation period under sub. (10) runs from the date on which benefits are calculated and paid to a plan participant. Benson v. Gates, 188 Wis. 2d 389, 525 N.W.2d 278 (Ct. App. 1994).

Whatever effect the Marital Property Act, ch. 766, may have with respect to property rights between spouses, it has no effect on the Board's determination of a beneficiary under ch. 40. Jackson v. Employee Trust Funds Board, 230 Wis. 2d 677, 602 N.W.2d 543 (Ct. App. 1999), 98-3063.

The board's consistent interpretation of “Mr. & Mrs." beneficiary designations as relating to the identity of the beneficiary on the date of the designation was reasonable. Jackson v. Employee Trust Funds Board, 230 Wis. 2d 677, 602 N.W.2d 543 (Ct. App. 1999), 98-3063.

Sub. (1) does not permit the division of a deferred compensation account pursuant to a qualified domestic relations order. Preiss v. Preiss, 2000 WI App 185, 238 Wis. 2d 368, 617 N.W.2d 514, 99-3261.

An appeal to the board was an inadequate remedy under the facts of the case because the board does not have the statutory authority to award interest on delayed benefit payments based either on a claim of unjust enrichment or a takings claim under Art. I, s. 13. The doctrine of exhaustion of administrative remedies did not require an appeal of the department's dismissal of the claim to the board before filing a court action. Fazio v. Department of Employee Trust Funds, 2002 WI App 127, 255 Wis. 2d 801, 645 N.W.2d 618, 01-2595.

Affirmed on other grounds. 2006 WI 7, 287 Wis. 2d 106, 708 N.W.2d 326, 04-0064.