(1) Beneficiaries are allowed to participate in the program unless disqualified from participation pursuant to subsection 69I-22.003(4), F.A.C.

Terms Used In Florida Regulations 69I-22.003

  • Beneficiary: A person who is entitled to receive the benefits or proceeds of a will, trust, insurance policy, retirement plan, annuity, or other contract. Source: OCC
  • Electronic funds transfer: The transfer of money between accounts by consumer electronic systems-such as automated teller machines (ATMs) and electronic payment of bills-rather than by check or cash. (Wire transfers, checks, drafts, and paper instruments do not fall into this category.) Source: OCC
    (2) In order to enroll for participation, a beneficiary must submit or cause to be submitted, a completed Direct Deposit Authorization Form to the Section following the instructions on the form.
    (a) For prompt authorization, state employees may submit their direct deposit request through People First at https://peoplefirst.myflorida.com and accessing the Employee Information tab, selecting Personal Information, and finally Direct Deposit.
    (b) For prompt authorization, retirees may submit their direct deposit request through the Florida Retirement System’s online portal at www.myFRS.com. For assistance with the online portal, contact the Division of Retirement at 1(844)377-1888 or (850)907-6500.
    (3) All beneficiaries filing a Direct Deposit Authorization Form for salary or retirement benefits shall provide the Department with the following information:
    (a) All salary and retirement beneficiaries shall provide the Department with a copy of a valid driver’s license of the beneficiary at the time the original Direct Deposit Autorization Form is filed.
    (b) If the beneficiary had not been issued a valid driver’s license at the time the original Direct Deposit Authorization Form is filed, the Department shall be provided with a legible copy of a photographic identification of the beneficiary issued by the United States or a foreign nation, a state or territory of the United States or foreign nation, or a political subdivision or agency thereof.
    (4) The Department shall disqualify an employee upon the written request of the employing agency which meets the criteria of this subsection (4). In its request the agency shall include adequate justification and documentation supporting its position that the employee should not be allowed to participate. The following will be considered adequate justification:
    (a) An employee has been on leave without pay, was overpaid, and as of the day immediately following the employee’s pay day money is owing to the State as a result of the overpayment; or
    (b) An employee has been on leave without pay resulting in overpayment of salary for two consecutive pay periods; or
    (c) An employee has been on leave without pay resulting in overpayment of salary for three pay periods out of the previous six pay periods.
The disqualified employee shall be paid by warrant for wages and retirement benefits, if any, until he or she again becomes eligible to participate. The employee shall regain his or her eligibility if he or she has not been on unauthorized leave without pay for a period of six continuous months. The employee must then complete a new Direct Deposit Authorization Form if he or she desires to participate and must attach to such Form a written statement from his or her agency that he or she has regained his or her eligibility to participate.
    (5) A Beneficiary‘s participation in direct deposit may be voluntarily terminated upon submission of a new Direct Deposit Authorization Form requesting the “”stop”” action, upon submission of a written request to stop, or upon submission of a new Direct Deposit Authorization Form requesting “”change”” action for account number or participating financial institution pursuant to subsection 69I-22.003(6), F.A.C. Participation shall be involuntarily terminated upon the beneficiary becoming disqualified pursuant to subsection 69I-22.003(4), F.A.C. or upon the beneficiary not receiving a payment by direct deposit for a continuous period of six (6) months. A new Direct Deposit Authorization Form will be required to be submitted in order to initiate participation after a voluntary or involuntary termination.
    (6) A participating beneficiary must notify the Section of a change in account number or a change in participating financial institution by submission of a new Direct Deposit Authorization Form requesting the “”change”” action. The Section shall also be notified by a participating beneficiary of a change in his or her social security number, or a change in his or her name. This notification must be accomplished by submission of a written request to change by the agency authorizing payment to the beneficiary. A request for change in account number or change in participating financial institution will result in a “”stop”” action being placed on the Direct Deposit Authorization Form which was then in effect. In the interim, requests for payments to the beneficiary will be made by warrants.
    (7) In the event a direct deposit by electronic funds transfer results in an improper payment to a beneficiary or other person, the Section should be notified immediately by the employing agency if the beneficiary is receiving wages, or the Division of Retirement if the beneficiary is receiving retirement benefits or both, as applicable. The Section will attempt to recover such improper payment but in the event recovery by the Section is not possible, the agency that authorized payment to the beneficiary will be notified that it shall pursue collection pursuant to chapter 69I-21, F.A.C.
    (8) In the event a participating beneficiary fails to receive a proper payment by direct deposit, ultimate payment to the participating beneficiary shall be coordinated by the Section. Revolving fund payment by the agency to the beneficiary shall only be made with the specific approval of the Section in each instance.
Rulemaking Authority 17.075(2), 17.14, 17.29 FS. Law Implemented 17.075(2), 17.076, 17.14, 17.29 FS. History-New 7-30-87, Amended 11-14-00, Formerly 3A-22.003, Amended 2-15-15.