If you do not name a beneficiary, a refund of contributions will be paid to your estate.  A Will has no effect on how FPPA distributes your pension benefits. If you pass away before you retire* and have less than five years of FPPA service credit, FPPA will refund your contributions plus interest to your beneficiary on file.  If you are vested with five or more years of FPPA service credit, your beneficiary has the option of receiving a refund of your contributions or a lifetime monthly benefit, payable at the time you would have turned age 55.

* If you have a spouse or dependent children at the time of your death, the Statewide Death & Disability Plan may take the place of your pension plan benefits in covering your family.  (See the section below about the Statewide Death & Disability Plan.)

The fastest and easiest way to name, review, or update your beneficiaries is through the Member Account Portal (MAP).  You can view your beneficiary information through MAP at any time and make any necessary updates. If you need assistance logging in or registering for a MAP account, call FPPA at (303) 770-3772 or email MAPHelp@FPPAco.org.

When you are first hired with your employer, Designating of beneficiaries is part of the enrollment process. Review all of your beneficiary designations regularly, at least every few years, but certainly after you experience a life-changing event, such as a marriage, divorce, or birth or death of a loved one. You must submit beneficiary changes to FPPA after these events (or at any time) to change your beneficiaries. For example, if you get married, your spouse will not automatically become a designated beneficiary for your pension plan without making a new beneficiary designation with FPPA.

You are not required to name a beneficiary or to name a beneficiary for each category listed below – it is your choice how your pension is distributed after you pass away.

Primary Beneficiary

This is the sole person you want to receive a lifetime benefit after you pass away. If your Primary Beneficiary receives the lifetime benefit, any named Contingent or Refund Beneficiaries will not receive a lifetime benefit. You may only name one Primary Beneficiary, as the lifetime benefit is based on that person’s birthdate. Your Primary Beneficiary may choose to:

• Take a refund of your contributions plus interest in a lump sum; or
• Receive your earned retirement in the form of a lifetime monthly benefit, payable when you would have reached age 55

Contingent Beneficiary

Your Contingent Beneficiary is the next-in-line sole person you want to receive your benefit in the event you and your Primary Beneficiary die before receiving any benefits. The Contingent Beneficiary has the same options for a benefit as described for the Primary Beneficiary above.

Refund Beneficiary

Naming Refund Beneficiaries gives you the option to name either a trust or an estate or multiple individuals to receive a refund of your contributions plus interest in a lump sum payment. If you elect to name joint beneficiaries, your refund will be split between them, based upon the percentage split you indicate. 

Until you apply for retirement or enter DROP, you can view your account and update beneficiaries on the Member Account Portal (MAP). Once you begin the retirement process with FPPA, you will be asked to confirm or change your beneficiaries. At that time, your specific beneficiary options will be explained to you. If you elect to take a refund of your contributions plus interest, you forfeit any vested pension benefits. In this case, all beneficiary designations are cancelled as there is no remaining benefit to be paid. If you would like to speak to someone about your specific situation regarding retirement or other benefit options, call FPPA and ask to speak to a Benefit Administrator at (303) 770-3772.

The Money Purchase assets held at Fidelity require you to name a beneficiary directly with Fidelity – beneficiary designations do not carry over between FPPA and Fidelity. To name beneficiaries with Fidelity, visit NetBenefits.com.

Survivor benefits under this plan are only available if you have a spouse or dependent children at the time of death while active (on- or off-duty) with your FPPA affiliated employer. If survivor benefits are received, the death benefit paid to your family takes the place of your pension benefit and begins at the time of your death.