Fringe Benefits Pool Project

Overview & FAQs

What is a fringe benefits pool?

Without a fringe benefits pool, departments/projects are charged fringe benefits expenses based on employees’ actual benefits selections for retirement, health insurance, etc. The fringe benefits pool concept calculates a blended rate for benefits costs which is applied to employees’ wages to account for fringe benefits expense at the departmental/project level.

What is the benefit of utilizing a fringe benefits pool?

The fringe benefits pool concept makes employee-related costs more consistent and predictable for departments/projects, simplifying the preparation and administration of budgets.

Will the utilization of a fringe benefits pool impact employees?

No, there will be no impact on employee pay or benefits.

What benefits are included in the fringe benefits rate?

  • Insurance – health, life, and disability
  • Retirement
  • FICA
  • Workers’ compensation
  • Reemployment compensation
  • Terminal leave payouts

How will this change be reflected on the ledgers?

For information on accounting changes, visit https://controller.vpfa.fsu.edu/fringe-benefits-pool.

Please see the Fringe Benefits Pool Implementation FAQs document for additional questions and answers.

Project Team/Contacts

The fringe benefits pool project team is comprised of representatives from the below offices.

Anticipated Project Timeline

  • March/April – Fiscal year 2024-2025 budgets should be developed using the anticipated rates outlined below. The Budget Office will conduct training sessions and provide assistance to department budget representatives during the Adaptive Planning budgeting process. Visit https://budget.fsu.edu/annual-operating-budget-information for details.
  • March/April – The Office of Research will communicate changes impacting sponsored projects.
  • Prior to July – The Controller’s Office will communicate changes impacting general ledger accounts used to record wage and fringe benefits expenses.
  • July – New fringe benefits process is active for payroll A. The new pool rates will also be applied to any retroactive pay or changes processed in 2024-2025.

Approved 2024-2025 Fringe Benefits Pool Rates

The rates below have been approved by the United States Department of Health and Human Sciences (DHHS). 

Pay Group Type 2024- 2025 Rate1 Identifier
Base Clinical Faculty Salaried 27.9% Salary Admin Plan = 022 and Employee Class = Clinical
Base Faculty Salaried 30.3% Salary Admin Plan = 022 or 022A (excluding Employee Class = Clinical)
Base Executive Service Salaried 30.3% Salary Admin Plan = 024
Base Athletic Coaches Salaried 30.3% Salary Admin Plan = 021 and Employee Class = Athletic Coaches (excluding Earnings Code AAW)
Base A&P Salaried 41.4% Salary Admin Plan = 021 (excluding Employee Class = Athletic Coaches)
Base Charter School Faculty Salaried 50.7% Salary Admin Plan = 022B
Base USPS Salaried 54.3% Salary Admin Plan = 023
Base Post Docs OPS 21.0% Employee Class = Post Docs
Base Graduate Assistants OPS 8.4% Employee Class = Graduate Assistants
Base Students OPS 1.7% Employee Class = Students (excludes Federal Work Study2)
Base OPS & Temps OPS 8.4% All other OPS Employee Classes
Non-Base Athletic Coach Supplements All 2.0% Earnings Code AAW
Non-Base Bonuses and One-Time Pays All 6.2% Any non-base pay without retirement applied (See list)
Non-Base Overtime and Supplements All 18.5% Any non-base pay with retirement applied (See list)
1Revised 6/18/2024; DHHS approved eff 6/28/24
2Federal Work Study students are exempt from all fringe benefits