1. Understanding Your Retirement Benefits Under the FRS Pension Plan
For FRS Members
Enrolled Prior to July 1, 2011

2. PENSION PLAN MEMBER HANDBOOK
DIVISION OF RETIREMENT

3. RETIREMENT GUIDES
DIVISION OF RETIREMENT

4. FRS.MYFLORIDA.COM

5. DISCLAIMER
If questions of interpretation arise as a result of the attempt to make retirement provisions easy to understand, Chapter 121, Florida Statutes; Chapter 60S, Florida Administrative Code; and the Internal Revenue Code shall remain the final authorities.
DIVISION OF RETIREMENT

6. FRS HISTORY FRS Created in December 1970 (TRS/SCOERS Merger)
Only one plan – FRS Pension Plan
Employee Non-Contributory System
(Jan. 1, 1975 – June 30, 2011)
3% Employee Contributions effective) July 1, 2011
FRS Investment Plan offered beginning July 1, 2002
DIVISION OF RETIREMENT

7. TWO FRS PLANS
This comparison has been designed to be intentionally brief and is not intended to include every plan detail. Complete details can be found in Chapter 121, Florida Statutes, and the rules of the State Board of Administration of Florida (SBA) in Title 19, Florida Administrative Code (F.A.C.) and the rules of the Division of Retirement of the Department of Management Services; Chapter 60-S , F.A.C.
DIVISION OF RETIREMENT

8. TWO FRS PLANS (866) 446-9377 Dept. of Management Services
Pension Plan
Investment Plan
Dept. of Management Services
State Board of Administration
Division of Retirement
Aon Hewitt
Plan Choice Guidance or for financial planning and counseling call the
My FRS Guidance Line at
(866)
Ernst & Young (EY)
MyFRS.COM
DIVISION OF RETIREMENT

9. Eligibility for a future benefit under the FRS Pension Plan
Occurs when you become a vested member.
Vested member means you have met the years of service required to be eligible to receive a future benefit under the plan.
DIVISION OF RETIREMENT

10. VESTING Members enrolled prior to July 1, 2001:
Seven, Eight or 10 year vesting
Members enrolled on July 1, 2001 though June 30, 2011:
Six year vesting
Members enrolled on or after July 1, 2011:
Eight year vesting
As previously stated, if an active member has designated their spouse as beneficiary, when that member vests under the FRS Pension Plan, meaning that they have reached the number of years of service required under the FRS Pension Plan to be eligible for a future benefit, the MAS will reflect all four benefit payment options.
For members initially enrolled prior to July 1, 2001, a member needed to have seven, eight or 10 years of service to vest depending on which membership class their service was.
Members initially enrolled on July 1, 2001 through June 30, 2011 are subject to six year vesting. Members initially enrolled prior to July 1, 2001 who were actively employed in a regularly established position with an FRS employer immediately fell under the six year vesting provisions. Those enrolled under the prior provisions who were not actively employed on July 1, 2001, when six year vesting provisions went into effect, if they return to work and more than a year away from vesting under the provisions they were enrolled under, they would have to return to work for one work year to be eligible for six year vesting. Those less than a year away from vesting, would just have to return to work for the number of months required to vest under the provisions enrolled under
Members initially enrolled on or after July 1, 2011 are subject to 8 year vesting.

11. Normal Retirement Date
Is when you are first eligible to receive an unreduced retirement benefit; and
Is also when your are eligible to participate in the Deferred Retirement Option Program (DROP).
DIVISION OF RETIREMENT

12. Normal Retirement Date
Special Risk Class Service –
Vested and age 55 or 25 years of Special Risk Class Service whichever occurs first; or
Combined total of 25 years of Special Risk Class service and military service purchased under the Active Duty Wartime Military Service provision and age 52.
All other Service Classes –
Vested and age 62 or 30 years of service whichever occurs first.
Normal Retirement date is the point a which a member is eligible for an unreduced retirement benefit. Vested members may retire prior to reaching their Normal Retirement date but the benefit will be reduced by 5 percent or pro rata share of for each year they are below normal retirement age.
So when is Normal Retirement date for members.
Member’s Enrolled before July 1, 2011
Special Risk Class Service – Age 55 or 25 years of Special Risk Class Service whichever occurs first.
All other Service Classes – Age 62 or 30 years of service whichever occurs first.
Members Enrolled on or after July 1, 2011
Special Risk Class Service – Age 60 or 30 years of Special Risk Class Service whichever occurs first.
All other Service Classes – Age 65 or 33 years of service whichever occurs first.
If reaching normal retirement date by age – Normal Retirement would be the first of the month in which the member turns that age.
If reaching normal retirement date by years – Normal Retirement would be the first of the following the month the member obtains those years of service.

13. Normal Retirement Date
If reaching your Normal Retirement date by:
Age, your Normal Retirement date would be the first of the month you turn that age.
Years of service, your Normal Retirement date would be the first of the month following the month you attain the years of service.
DIVISION OF RETIREMENT

14. Normal Retirement Date - DROP
K-12 Instructional Personnel, may enter DROP at Normal Retirement or at anytime after reaching Normal Retirement and participate for a full 60 months.
All others, unless you are eligible to defer your 60-month DROP participation period, your 60-month DROP participation period starts at your Normal Retirement date.
12 month election window
DIVISION OF RETIREMENT

15. Who can defer their 60-month DROP Participation period?
All membership classes except for Special Risk Class:
If you reach your Normal Retirement date by years of service prior to reaching age 57, you may defer your entry into DROP up until the month in which your reach age 57 and still be eligible to participate in DROP for 60 months.
12 month election window.
Elected Officials may defer DROP entry until the next term of office but can only participate for 60 months or the length of that term of office whichever is less.
DIVISION OF RETIREMENT

16. Who can defer their 60-month DROP Participation period?
Special Risk Class Members:
If you reach your Normal Retirement date by years of service prior to reaching age 52, you may defer your entry into DROP up until the month in which your reach age 52 and still be eligible to participate in DROP for 60 months.
12 month election window.
DIVISION OF RETIREMENT

17. WHAT IS DROP?
You effectively retire under the Florida Retirement System (FRS) Pension Plan delaying termination for up to 60 months.
Your monthly retirement benefits accrue in your DROP account while participating in DROP.
Your DROP account earns an effective annual interest rate of 1.3 percent.
Your Retirement benefit while in DROP receives an annual Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA).
As a DROP participant you are not subject to 3 percent employee contributions.
DIVISION OF RETIREMENT

18. UPON TERMINATION OF DROP
DROP accumulation is paid in one of three ways:
as a lump-sum payment, with 20 percent withheld for federal income taxes;
as a direct rollover to an eligible retirement plan; or
as a combined partial lump-sum payment and direct rollover.
A DROP termination packet mailed three months prior to your DROP ending date (Forms DP-Term & DP-PAYT).
DIVISION OF RETIREMENT

19. THE BENEFIT CALCULATION FORMULA
Years of Service X
% Value per Year
Average Final Compensation
= Option 1 Gross Annual Benefit at Normal Retirement Divide by 12 = Gross Monthly Option 1 Benefit
DIVISION OF RETIREMENT

20. YEARS OF SERVICE
Is the total of all years and parts of years you worked in a covered position with an FRS employer plus any optional service credit that you purchase.
DIVISION OF RETIREMENT

21. OPTIONAL SERVICE CREDIT
Refunded Service
Leave of Absence
Wartime Military Service
Must earn a year of creditable service after taking the refund to be eligible to purchase.
Up to 2 years.
Must have been authorized in writing by employer before or during the leave.
Must have returned to work for one complete calendar month immediately after leave of absence.
Form FR-28.
Up to 4 years.
Must have been employed in an FRS covered position prior to 1/1/1987.
Must be active duty service during certain wartime military dates.
Service cannot have been used under any other Pension Plan.
DD-214.
DIVISION OF RETIREMENT

22. OPTIONAL SERVICE CREDIT
In-State and/or Out of State Service
May claim up to a combined total of 5 years of In-state and Out of State service purchasable only as Regular Class service.
Service claimed must have been performed as a public employee participating in a pension plan in another state, a political subdivision of another state; or
As a public employee in Florida, including periods of employment in charter schools or in any nonpublic school or college in Florida that is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools; or
Service with the federal government or military may qualify as out-of- state service.
Form FR-30 or DD-214
DIVISION OF RETIREMENT

23. ACCRUAL VALUE PER YEAR OF SERVICE.
Regular Class Service
Age 62 or 30 years =
1.60%
Age 63 or 31 years =
1.63%
Age 64 or 32 years =
1.65%
Age 65 or 33 years =
1.68%
Senior Management Service Class = 2.00%
Special Risk Class Service
Service earned on or after July 1, = 3.00%
Service earned prior to July 1, = 2.00%
Elected Officers’ Class Service
Judges and Justices = 3.33%
All others = 3.00%
DIVISION OF RETIREMENT

24. AVERAGE FINAL COMPENSATION (AFC)
Average of your highest five fiscal years of salary.*
Statute allows up to 500 hours of annual leave to be used in the calculation of the AFC.
State agency employment limits as follows:
Career Service employees - Up to 240 hours of lump sum annual leave can be used in the calculation of your AFC.
Senior Management and Select Exempt employees - Up to hours 480 of lump sum annual leave can be used in the calculation of your AFC.
Consult your Human Resource office.
* Fiscal Year is July 1 through June 30.
DIVISION OF RETIREMENT

25. BENEFIT FORMULA CALCULATION
Member with all Regular Class Service at Normal Retirement:
Years of Service X
% Value/Year
Average Final Compensation 30
1.60%
$25,000.00
= Gross Annual Option 1 Benefit of $12,000.00
Divide by 12
= Gross Monthly Option 1 Benefit of $1,000.00

26. BENEFIT FORMULA CALCULATION
Member with all Special Risk Class Service at Normal Retirement:
Years of Service X
% Value/Year
Average Final Compensation 25
3.00%
$25,000.00
= Gross Annual Option 1 Benefit of $18,750.00
Divide by 12
= Gross Monthly Option 1 Benefit of $1,562.50
DIVISION OF RETIREMENT

27. BENEFIT FORMULA CALCULATION
Member with Regular and Special Risk Class Service at Normal Retirement both classes of service:
Years of Service X
% Value per year
AFC
Option 1 Annual Benefit
25 years Special Risk
3.00%
$25,000.00
$18,750.00
5 years Regular Class
1.60%
$2,000.00
Total Option 1 Annual Benefit Amount
$20,750.00
Divide by 12 to get Monthly Option 1 Benefit
$1,729.17
DIVISION OF RETIREMENT

28. EARLY RETIREMENT Service Retirement before Normal Retirement Date
Benefit Reduced 5% for each year under Normal Retirement age or proportional share thereof.
Special Risk Class – Reduced from age 55.
All other Classes – Reduced from age 62.
DIVISION OF RETIREMENT

29. BENEFIT PAYMENT OPTIONS
Option 1: Lifetime monthly benefit to you.
Option 2: A reduced monthly benefit payment to you for your lifetime. If you die 10 years or more after retirement, no benefits are payable to your beneficiary. However, if you die within 10 years (120 months) of your effective retirement date, your beneficiary will receive a monthly benefit payment in the same amount you were receiving for the balance of the 120-month period (including any period of DROP participation). No further benefits are then payable.
Option 3: A reduced monthly benefit payment to you for your lifetime and a continuing benefit to your beneficiary. No further benefits are payable after both you and your beneficiary die.
Option 4: An adjusted monthly benefit to you while you and your beneficiary are living. Upon the death of either you or your beneficiary, the monthly benefit is reduced to 2/3 of the benefit payable while both were living.
DIVISION OF RETIREMENT

30. BENEFICIARY DESIGNATION
Option 1 or 2 Beneficiary can be anyone.
Option 3 or 4 Beneficiary must be a qualified Joint Annuitant.
DIVISION OF RETIREMENT

31. Joint Annuitant Your spouse.
Your parent, grandparent, or a person for whom you are the legal guardian, claimed as a dependent on your federal income tax.
Your natural or legally adopted child who is either under age 25 or is physically or mentally disabled and incapable of self-support (regardless of age).
DIVISION OF RETIREMENT

33. Fiscal Year: 2019
Benefit
Fiscal Year: 2020
Benefit

34. COST OF LIVING ADJUSTMENT (COLA)
Retirees (including DROP participants) receive a COLA in their July benefit each year.
All service earned through June 2011 receives a 3% COLA
Service earned July 2011 and after – 0% COLA
Formula: Years of service through June 2011 divided by Years of service at retirement X 3%.
26/30 X 3% = 2.60%
28.50/30 X 3% = 2.85%
DIVISION OF RETIREMENT

35. APPLYING FOR SERVICE RETIREMENT
Applications are accepted up to 6 months prior to your effective retirement date.
To retain your first eligible effective retirement date, you application must be received by the division within 30 days of your termination date.
If your application is not received by the division within 30 days of your termination date, your effective retirement date will be the first of the month following the month we receive your application.
Form FR-11
Application for Service Retirement
DIVISION OF RETIREMENT

36. APPLYING FOR DROP RETIREMENT
Applications are accepted up to 6 months prior to retirement date.
Form DP-11 and/or DP-ELE, must be received by the division no later than the last state working day of the month you elect to participate in DROP.
Form DP-11
Application for Service Retirement and DROP
Form DP-ELE
Notice of Election to Participate in the DROP and Resignation of Employment
DIVISION OF RETIREMENT

37. OTHER ITEMS REQUIRED TO COMPLETE APPLICATION
FRS-11o - Option Selection Form
SA-1 - Spousal Acknowledgement Form
Birth Date Verification – member and Joint annuitant (See BVR-1 Form)
Copy of Marriage Certificate - if you selected benefit payment option 3 or 4 and listed your spouse as your joint annuitant

38. FORMS ON WEBSITE: FRS.MYFLORIDA.COM
DIVISION OF RETIREMENT

39. THE RETIREE PACKET
A retiree packet is mailed just prior to receipt of your first benefit payment and includes the following:
Form W-4P, Withholding Certificate for Pension Payments (or complete online)
Form DFS-A1-26R, Direct Deposit Authorization (or complete online)
Form HIS-1, Health Insurance Certification for Pension Plan Members
DIVISION OF RETIREMENT

40. REEMPLOYMENT AFTER RETIREMENT
During the first six calendar months of retirement or following your DROP termination date, you may not work for any FRS employer.
If you do, you will void your retirement and you will have to pay back any benefits received including your DROP payout
During the 7th – 12th calendar months of retirement or following your DROP termination date, if your return to work for an FRS employer you must suspend your retirement benefit for the months you worked.
DIVISION OF RETIREMENT

41. REEMPLOYMENT AFTER RETIREMENT
Renewed Membership – Closed effective 07/01/2010.
Any retiree initially reemployed with an FRS participating employer on or after July 1, 2010, will not be eligible to participate in any state- administered retirement system.
DIVISION OF RETIREMENT

42. IMPORTANT NOTICE
Forfeiture of Benefits as defined by Florida Statutes (5) or
If you commit a specified offense prior to retirement or while participating in DROP and you were either:
Convicted by a court of competent jurisdiction; or
Terminated from employment as a result of admitting to the commission of a specified offense
You will forfeit ALL of your retirement rights and benefits!
DIVISION OF RETIREMENT

43. FRS.MYFLORIDA.COM
DIVISION OF RETIREMENT

44. FRS ONLINE LOG IN PAGE
DIVISION OF RETIREMENT

45. FRS ONLINE ACTIVE MEMBER
My Account modules
Member Services modules
Other Links
DIVISION OF RETIREMENT

46. FRS ONLINE – DROP PARTICIPANTS
DROP Services Modules
DROP Information – Provides your DROP Account details and your DROP accrual monthly for your DROP participation period.
Beneficiary – View your beneficiary designation; change your beneficiary designation if you selected Option 1 or 2.
To change your beneficiary under Option 3 or 4, contact the Division.

47. FRS ONLINE - RETIREE SERVICES
Account Information
View your current or prior monthly benefit payment stubs/statements and 1099R Tax Form.
View/change your Federal Tax withholding.
Print a Pension Income Verification Letter.
Beneficiary
View your beneficiary.
Change your beneficiary if you selection Option 1 or 2
Contact information to the division to change your beneficiary under Option 3 or 4 (limited to two changes).
Address Change – To update your address.
Direct Deposit – Update your direct deposit information

48. CONTACTING THE DIVISION
Telephone: Toll free
Locally
DIVISION OF RETIREMENT

49. QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
DIVISION OF RETIREMENT