How to Report Death of FRS Retiree: Who to Call and What Happens Next

When an FRS retiree dies, the clock starts immediately. Monthly pension deposits halt as soon as the Division of Retirement processes the death notification, and the state will recover any payments deposited for months after the death—sometimes by pulling money directly from the joint bank account. Calling quickly protects you from the worst version of that surprise.

Who to Call

For Pension Plan retirees and DROP participants: Call the Division of Retirement at 844-377-1888 (toll-free) or 850-907-6500. You can also submit a notification through the online portal at frs.fl.gov.

For Investment Plan retirees: Call the MyFRS Financial Guidance Line at 1-866-446-9377 and select Option 4 to reach Alight Solutions.

The retiree's former employer HR department should also be notified. They process final annual leave payouts, employer-sponsored life insurance claims, and group health continuation options.

What Information You'll Need

Have this ready before you call:

• The deceased member's full name and Social Security number
• Date of death
• Your name, relationship to the deceased, and contact information
• The member's date of birth (for account verification)

The representative will confirm the account type, retirement option, and named beneficiaries on file. They'll also provide instructions for submitting claim forms.

What Happens to the Bank Deposits

The retiree is entitled to the pension benefit for the calendar month in which they died. After that, all deposits stop. If a payment for a later month has already been deposited, it must be returned, and the Division of Retirement may initiate a reclamation through the bank.

This can catch surviving spouses off guard—especially if the pension deposit was going into a joint account that's also being used for household expenses. Banks generally honor the state's reclamation request, meaning money disappears from the account without warning.

To reduce the risk of overdraft complications, consider keeping enough of a buffer in the joint account to cover one month's pension until the reclamation clears, or contact the bank to explain the situation before the clawback arrives.

What to Do After Reporting

Once the death is reported, the Division sends a survivor claim packet based on the retirement option on file. The forms you'll need depend on whether you're claiming a continuing monthly benefit (Form FST-11b), a contribution refund or DROP balance (Form FST-11g), or the Health Insurance Subsidy (Form HIS-1).

Start gathering certified death certificates—the Division typically needs copies both with and without the cause of death listed—plus your birth verification and marriage certificate if you're the surviving spouse.

Don't make any payout elections until you understand which retirement option was selected and what your choices actually are. The Florida FRS Survivor Benefits Guide walks through every scenario with a step-by-step timeline, document checklist, and call scripts for each agency.

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