Financial Planning for Life

The County provides retirement benefits for eligible employees through the Florida Retirement System (FRS). Enrollment is automatic for full-time and part-time employees. In order to qualify for retirement benefits, an employee must be vested. Effective July 1, 2011, the legislature amended the retirement plan and redefined normal retirement age and the vesting requirements for new members. In addition, FRS members must contribute 3 percent of their salary towards their retirement benefits. There are two plans County employees can enroll in: the FRS Pension plan or the FRS Investment plan.

Retirement Plan Vesting Periods:

Depending on your FRS employment date, your vesting period for the Pension plan may be different.

FRS Employment Began Before 07/01/2011 FRS Employment Began After 07/01/2011
Your vesting period is: Your vesting period is:
6 years of service and 62 years of age, OR 8 years of service and 65 years of age, OR
30 years of service 33 years of service

The vesting period for the Investment plan is 1 year regardless of when your FRS employment began.

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Retirement contributions to the Florida Retirement System[External Link] are provided.
Contributions will be made by both the employer, Palm Beach County, and the employee, effective July 1, 2011. The employee contribution rate will be 3% of their gross earnings. Social Security participation is mandatory.

Information on our retirement plans

FRS Frequently Asked Questions

  • DROP Application Forms:
    • Notice of Election to Participate in the Deferred Retirement Option Program (DROP) and Resignation of Employment

      DP-ELE

    • Application for Service Retirement and the Deferred Retirement Option Program (DROP)

      DP-11

    • Option Selection for FRS Members

      FRS-11o

  • Regular Retirement Application Forms:
    • Application for Service Retirement

      FR-11

    • Option Selection for FRS Members

      FRS-11o

  • Disability Application Forms:
    • Application for Disability Retirement - Pension Plan Members Only

      FR-13

    • Statement of Disability by Employer

      FR-13a

    • Physician's Report

      FR-13b

    • Option Selection for FRS Members

      FRS-11o

  • Beneficiary Change Forms:
    • Beneficiary Designation Form - Active Members Only

      BEN-001

    • Beneficiary Designation Form (Retired Members or More than One Primary Beneficiary)

      FST-12

  • Direct Deposit & Tax Withholding Forms:
    • Direct Deposit Authorization

      DFS-A1-26R

    • Withholding for Pension Payments

      W-4P

  • Rollover Forms:
    • 2nd Election Retirement Plan Choice Form

      ELE-2

    • "EZ" 2nd Election Retirement Plan Choice Form

      ELE-2-EZ

  • What FRS will accept as proof of age:
    • Birth Verification Form (Request for Proof of Age)

      BVR-1