State Public Pensions in Florida

State Public Pensions in Florida: key facts

Systems

FRS Pension Plan (defined benefit) and FRS Investment Plan (defined contribution). The Division of Retirement, within the Department of Management Services, administers the Pension Plan.

Retiree death

What continues depends on the payment option the retiree chose at retirement. Option 1 pays no continuing benefit — the beneficiary receives only a refund of personal contributions that exceed benefits already paid. Option 2 continues the same monthly payment to the beneficiary for the balance of 120 months if the retiree dies within 10 years of retiring. Options 3 and 4 pay a continuing lifetime monthly benefit, but only to a beneficiary who qualifies as a joint annuitant.

Pre-retirement death

A vested member's beneficiary who qualifies as a joint annuitant may choose a lifetime monthly benefit, calculated as if the member had retired the month after death under Option 3 (reduced for early retirement if the member died before normal retirement age), or a refund of personal contributions. A non-vested member's beneficiary, or a beneficiary who is not a joint annuitant, receives only a refund of the member's personal contributions.

Payments after death

The estate is entitled to the retirement benefit issued at the end of the month of death. Any retirement benefit issued in the member's name and dated after the month of death must by law be returned or repaid to the Division.

Contact

Report a death to the Division of Retirement at 1-844-377-1888 (or 850-907-6500), or through FRS Online at frs.fl.gov. MyFRS Financial Guidance Line: 1-866-446-9377.