What is the Wisconsin Retirement System?

The Wisconsin Retirement System (WRS) is a public pension plan that provides retirement, disability, and death benefits to employees of the state of Wisconsin, local governments, and participating public employers. Established in 1982, the WRS is managed by the Department of Employee Trust Funds (ETF) and covers over 600,000 current and former public employees. Participation is generally mandatory for eligible employees, and both employees and employers contribute to the plan. The system is designed to offer a secure and reliable source of income for public employees during retirement.