|
|
|
All of the benefit information below has been complied by COPS, a support group for police survivors.
STATE OF WYOMING
DEATH BENEFITS
To obtain certified copies of registered personal documents, contact the Vital Records Service, Hathaway
Building, Cheyenne, WY 82002, phone
(307) 777-7591.
STATE DEATH BENEFITS
One-time state death benefits are referenced in the retirement statutes.
STATE PENSION BENEFITS
15-5-309. Death benefits; surviving spouse and children;
amounts; length of payments.
Upon the death from any cause of any person appointed or selected and sworn as a member in any capacity
or rank of the police department of any city or town subject to the provisions of this article, the board shall
pay a monthly pension of fifty percent (50%) of the deceased officer’s monthly salary out of the funds to
his surviving spouse. The pension shall continue during her life or until (s)he remarries. In addition, the
board shall pay to the surviving spouse out of the fund six percent (6%) of the deceased officer’s monthly
salary per month for the support and maintenance of each child of the deceased officer who is under
eighteen (18) years of age and was supported by him prior to his death. The payments shall continue until
the child becomes eighteen (18) years of age or marries.
For additional information concerning your specific situation, contact the Wyoming Retirement
System, Herschler Building 1 East, 122 West 25th Cheyenne, Wyoming 82002.
EDUCATION BENEFITS
None available.
HEALTH BENEFITS
Health plans vary depending on the department that the officer was an employee of. Most state employees
receive health coverages through the Wyoming State Employees & Officials Group Insurance Plan.
WORKERS’ COMPENSATION
Workers’ Compensation coverage is compulsory for all Wyoming employers engaged in extra hazardous
occupations and elective for all other occupations.
The maximum weekly benefit is $275 (66 2/3% of the State’s Average Monthly Wage) for a maximum
period of 231 weeks. Court may continue payment beyond 231 weeks at
33 1/3% of the State’s Average Monthly Wage. Children receive benefits until age 19 or beyond if
disabled, not to exceed age 21. Maximum burial allowance is $1,800 unless other arrangements exist
between employer and employee under agreement.
To receive workers’ compensation benefits the surviving spouse must take the initiative and file a workers’
compensation claim through a workers’ compensation attorney to receive any compensation. The
determination as to whether the claim will be paid will be determined by the Workers’ Compensation
Appeals Board.
Contact the Division of Workers’ Compensation, State Department of Employment, Herschler Building,
122 West 25th Street, Cheyenne, WY 82002, telephone (307) 777-7441.
PERSONAL LIFE POLICIES
Descent and Distribution: All property of intestate shall descend and be distributed in parcenary to
intestate’s kindred, male and female, subject to payment of debts, as
follows:
(1) if intestate leaves husband or wife and children, or descendants
of children surviving, then one-half to surviving husband or wife,
and residue to surviving children or descendants of children;
(2) if descendant leaves husband or wife and no child nor
descendants of child, then all to surviving husband or wife;
(3) if intestate leaves no husband or wife, then to intestate’s children
surviving, and descendants of his children who are dead,
descendants collectively taking share which their parents would
have taken if living;
(4) if intestate leaves no husband or wife, nor any child or
descendants of any child, then to intestate’s father, mother,
brothers, sisters, and to descendants of brothers and sisters who
are dead, descendants collectively taking share which their
parents would have taken if living, in equal parts; and
(5) if intestate leaves none of above, then to intestate’s grandfather,
grandmother, uncles, aunts and their descendants, descendants
taking collectively, share of their immediate ancestors, in equal
parts.
ADDITIONAL BENEFITS
Wyoming has a program to help if you or a family member is a victim of violent crime. Out-of-pocket
expenses may be reimbursed after deducting amounts received or available from other sources such as
insurance.
*Maximum award up to $10,000
*Minimum loss must be $100
*Emergency awards up to $1,000
To apply you must file a claim application. To obtain a form or more information, contact the Wyoming
Crime Victims Compensation Commission, Office of the Attorney General Capitol Building,
Cheyenne, Wyoming 82002; (307) 777-5990. (You may call collect.)
All of the benefit information above has been complied by COPS, a support group for police survivors.
Contact the National Office of Concerns of Police Survivors, Inc. for additional information, or to support any of COPS' programs.
|
|
|
Web site copyrighted © 2005 by Lydia Warner Miller