Workers Ages 60 to 63 Can Put $35,750 in a 401(k) in 2026

Workers who are 60 to 63 in 2026 can contribute as much as $35,750 to a 401(k) this year. That higher limit comes from a temporary catch-up rule, and it goes away once the worker ages out of the 60-to-63 window.

The Numbers Behind the $35,750

For 2026, the IRS set the standard 401(k) employee contribution limit at $24,500. Workers 50 and older can add a catch-up contribution, normally $8,000. But under a provision from the SECURE 2.0 law, savers who are 60, 61, 62 or 63 at any point in the year get a higher catch-up of $11,250 instead. Add that to the $24,500 base and the total reaches $35,750.

When the Higher Limit Goes Away

The larger catch-up applies only to ages 60 through 63. Once workers are no longer in the 60-to-63 age band, the catch-up reverts to the standard level. For someone who turns 64 in 2027, that makes 2026 a use-it-or-lose-it year to take advantage of the higher limit.

The Fine Print That Decides Eligibility

The figures are ceilings, not guarantees. What a worker can actually contribute depends on their plan’s rules and their pay: not every employer plan offers the age-60-63 catch-up, and contributions cannot exceed earnings. The IRS notes plan terms can set lower limits. These amounts also cover employee deferrals only; total plan contributions, including any employer match, follow a separate, higher cap.

Why It Adds Up

For someone nearing retirement, the special rule can mean more than $3,000 in additional tax-advantaged savings compared with the regular 50-and-over catch-up, and more than $11,000 above the base employee limit. Anyone in the 60-to-63 window who wants to use it should confirm with their plan administrator whether their 401(k) allows the higher catch-up, and whether their income supports it, before the year ends.

References: IRS