Human Resources & Workforce Diversity

Beneficiary Designation Changes

You should know . .

  • Many UW benefit programs would pay death benefits to your survivors if you should die while participating in the program.
  • Your will or trust document often is not enough to control how your death benefits are paid.  You must either file a beneficiary designation with the program provider or allow state law or the program contract to determine who receives the benefit.
  • Wisconsin marital property law may affect how some of your benefits are paid, but it does not affect payment of Wisconsin Retirement System, State Group Life Insurance, and Wisconsin Deferred Compensation benefits.
  • It's important to keep a record of your beneficiary designations and to update them whenever your circumstances change.

What to do. . .

Wisconsin Retirement System University Insurance Association EPIC Benefits+ Accidental Death and Dismemberment Benefit
State Group Life Insurance
Individual and Family Life Insurance

Wisconsin Retirement System

  • Read about statutory standard sequence.  Standard sequence determines your beneficiary for WRS purposes unless you file a beneficiary designation with the Department of Employee Trust Funds.
  • Check your annual statement from the Wisconsin Retirement System for the names of your current beneficiaries. (Annual statements are usually distributed in May.)

State Group Life Insurance

  • Read about statutory standard sequence.  Standard sequence determines your beneficiary for your life insurance as an employee through the State Group Life Insurance Program unless you file a beneficiary designation with the Department of Employee Trust Funds. 
  • You, the employee, are the beneficiary for Spouse and Dependent coverage.

Individual and Family Life Insurance

  • File a beneficiary designation with the University of Wisconsin System Staff Benefits Office to ensure death proceeds will be paid to the beneficiaries you choose.
  • Contact your campus benefits office to obtain a printed beneficiary designation form.
  • If you do not name a beneficiary, the following standard sequence determines payment of death benefits:
    • Benefits are paid in equal shares to the people in the first group in the following list who are still living at your death:
      1. The insured's spouse or domestic partner, if living, otherwise;
      2. The insured's surviving children, equally, otherwise;
      3. The insured's surviving grandchildren equally, otherwise;
      4. The insured's surviving parents equally, otherwise;
      5. The insured's surviving siblings, equally, otherwise;
      6. The insured's estate
    • Benefits from a spouse or domestic partner's insurance are paid to the insured employee if living, otherwise to his or her estate.
    • Benefits from a child's insurance are paid to the insured employee if living, otherwise to his or her estate.

University Insurance Association, Inc.

  • File a beneficiary designation with Minnesota Life Insurance Company to ensure death proceeds will be paid to the beneficiaries you choose.
  • The beneficiary designation form is accessible on line or contact your campus benefits office.
  • If you do not name a beneficiary, or if the designated beneficiary does not survive you, the following standard sequence determines payment of death benefits.
    • Benefits are paid in equal shares to the people in the first group in the following list who are still living at your death:
      1. The insured's spouse or domestic partner, if living, otherwise;
      2. The insured's surviving children, equally, otherwise;
      3. The insured's surviving grandchildren equally, otherwise;
      4. The insured's surviving parents equally, otherwise;
      5. The insured's surviving siblings, equally, otherwise;
      6. The insured's estate.

      • University of Wisconsin Employees, Inc.

      • File a beneficiary designation with Minnesota Life Insurance Company to ensure the death benefit is paid to the beneficiaries you choose.
      • If you do not name a beneficiary, the following standard sequence determines payment of death benefits.
        • Benefits are paid in equal shares to the people in the first group in the following list who are still living at your death:
          1. The insured's spouse or domestic partner, if living, otherwise;
          2. The insured's surviving children, equally, otherwise;
          3. The insured's surviving grandchildren equally, otherwise;
          4. The insured's surviving parents equally, otherwise;
          5. The insured's surviving siblings, equally, otherwise;
          6. The insured's estate.

      Accidental Death and Dismemberment Insurance

      • File a beneficiary designation with UW System Administration to ensure the death benefit is paid to the beneficiaries you choose.
      • If you do not name a beneficiary or if the designated beneficiary does not survive you, standard sequence determines payment of benefits. The death benefit will be paid to the insured's surviving descendents in the following order:
        1. The insured's spouse or domestic partner, if living, otherwise;
        2. The insured's surviving children, equally, otherwise;
        3. The insured's surviving grandchildren equally, otherwise;
        4. The insured's surviving parents equally, otherwise;
        5. The insured's surviving siblings, equally, otherwise;
        6. The insured's estate.
      • All claims associated with a covered spouse, domestic partner or child will be paid to the insured employee.

      EPIC Benefits+ Accidental Death and Dismemberment Benefit

      • Name a beneficiary on the application form at initial enrollment.
      • To change your beneficiary, contact your campus benefits office or the beneficiary designation form is accessible on line.
      • If the named beneficiary does not survive you, benefits are paid to your estate.
      • You, the employee, are the beneficiary for spouse and dependent coverage.

      Tax-Sheltered Annuity Program

      • Name a beneficiary on the application form at initial enrollment.
      • If you die before naming a beneficiary or annuitizing your account, your investment company will determine your beneficiary. Most companies follow one of two procedures: they pay all benefits directly to the deceased's estate; or they pay benefits to the surviving spouse, if any, and then to the deceased's estate.
      • Look at the custodial agreement or contract you have with your TSA investment company. This document explains how your company determines beneficiaries.
      • Check your most recent statement from your TSA investment company. The statement often includes the name of the person you selected as your beneficiary.
      • If you wish to name a beneficiary other than the one(s) that would automatically be determined for you, you must file a beneficiary designation with the company.
      • Contact information for TSA investment companies

      Deferred Compensation Program