Wyoming Department of Workforce Services
Wyoming Department of Workforce Services is the monopolistic state workers compensation fund in Wyoming. Private carriers do not write workers comp in Wyoming, every employer subject to coverage buys directly from the state fund. Verified 2026-05-09.
About Wyoming Department of Workforce Services
Wyoming Department of Workforce Services is the monopolistic state workers compensation fund in Wyoming. Private carriers do not write workers comp in Wyoming, every employer subject to coverage buys directly from the state fund.
State funds were originally created to ensure every employer can find workers comp coverage, even employers private carriers refuse to write. In Wyoming, the state fund is the only writer; there is no private market for workers comp here.
Pricing on a state fund policy in Wyoming
State funds use the same Wyoming Department of Workforce Services class code rate filings as private carriers; the rate per $100 of payroll is the same. Differences come in at the schedule rating stage (where the underwriter applies discretionary credits or debits, capped at 25% in Wyoming) and the dividend programs (some state funds return a portion of premium to policyholders in good loss years).
Claims handling
Statutory benefits are set by Wyoming law and apply equally to state fund and private carrier policies. The state fund typically maintains its own in-house claims operation, while private carriers may use third-party administrators (TPAs). Some employers prefer the state fund for the consistency of a single in-state claims team; others prefer private carrier TPAs for specialization in their industry.
Related reading
FAQs
What is Wyoming Department of Workforce Services?
Wyoming Department of Workforce Services is the monopolistic state workers compensation fund in Wyoming. Private carriers do not write workers comp in Wyoming, every employer subject to coverage buys directly from the state fund.
Is Wyoming a monopolistic state for workers comp?
Yes. Wyoming is one of a small number of monopolistic states; private carriers do not write workers comp in Wyoming, every covered employer buys from Wyoming Department of Workforce Services directly.
Who is eligible to buy from Wyoming Department of Workforce Services?
Every Wyoming employer subject to the workers comp coverage requirement must buy from Wyoming Department of Workforce Services. There is no opt-out except for industry-specific statutory exemptions.
Who has to carry workers comp in Wyoming?
All employers with one or more employees are generally required to carry coverage.
What is the penalty for skipping coverage in Wyoming?
Employers failing to provide coverage may face fines, imprisonment, and civil liability for an injured worker's medical expenses and lost wages.
What is the max weekly benefit on a Wyoming Department of Workforce Services policy?
Statutory benefits are set by Wyoming law and apply equally on private and state-fund policies. The max weekly indemnity benefit is $1,595 (effective 2025-07-01), calculated as 66.67% of the average weekly wage.