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§ 631. Age limits

Version history — every release point where this text changed

Release point 119-83 · current through 04/13/2026

§ 631.

Age limits

(a)

Individuals at least 40 years of age

The prohibitions in this chapter shall be limited to individuals who are at least 40 years of age.

(b)

Employees or applicants for employment in Federal Government

In the case of any personnel action affecting employees or applicants for employment which is subject to the provisions of section 633a of this title, the prohibitions established in section 633a of this title shall be limited to individuals who are at least 40 years of age.

(c)

Bona fide executives or high policymakers

(1)

Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to prohibit compulsory retirement of any employee who has attained 65 years of age and who, for the 2-year period immediately before retirement, is employed in a bona fide executive or a high policymaking position, if such employee is entitled to an immediate nonforfeitable annual retirement benefit from a pension, profit-sharing, savings, or deferred compensation plan, or any combination of such plans, of the employer of such employee, which equals, in the aggregate, at least $44,000.

(2)

In applying the retirement benefit test of paragraph (1) of this subsection, if any such retirement benefit is in a form other than a straight life annuity (with no ancillary benefits), or if employees contribute to any such plan or make rollover contributions, such benefit shall be adjusted in accordance with regulations prescribed by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, after consultation with the Secretary of the Treasury, so that the benefit is the equivalent of a straight life annuity (with no ancillary benefits) under a plan to which employees do not contribute and under which no rollover contributions are made.

Source(Pub. L. 90–202, § 12,
Dec. 15, 1967
, 81 Stat. 607; Pub. L. 95–256, § 3(a), (b)(3),
Apr. 6, 1978
, 92 Stat. 189, 190; 1978 Reorg. Plan No. 1, § 2, eff.
Jan. 1, 1979
, 43 F.R. 19807, 92 Stat. 3781; Pub. L. 98–459, title VIII, § 802(c)(1),
Oct. 9, 1984
, 98 Stat. 1792; Pub. L. 99–272, title IX, § 9201(b)(2),
Apr. 7, 1986
, 100 Stat. 171; Pub. L. 99–592, §§ 2(c), 6(a),
Oct. 31, 1986
, 100 Stat. 3342, 3344; Pub. L. 101–239, title VI, § 6202(b)(3)(C)(ii),
Dec. 19, 1989
, 103 Stat. 2233.)
Notes

Editorial Notes

Amendments

1989—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 101–239 struck out “(except the provisions of section 623(g) of this title)” after “in this chapter”.
1986—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 99–592, § 2(c)(1), which directed that “but less than seventy years of age” be struck out was executed by striking out “but less than 70 years of age” after “40 years of age” as the probable intent of Congress.
Pub. L. 99–272 inserted “(except the provisions of section 623(g) of this title)” after “this chapter”.
Subsec. (c)(1). Pub. L. 99–592, § 2(c)(2), which directed that “but not seventy years of age,” be struck out was executed by striking out “but not 70 years of age,” after “65 years of age” as the probable intent of Congress.
Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 99–592, § 6(a), (b), temporarily added subsec. (d) which read as follows: “Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to prohibit compulsory retirement of any employee who has attained 70 years of age, and who is serving under a contract of unlimited tenure (or similar arrangement providing for unlimited tenure) at an institution of higher education (as defined by section 1141(a) of title 20).” See Effective and Termination Dates of 1986 Amendments note below.
1984—Subsec. (c)(1). Pub. L. 98–459 substituted “$44,000” for “$27,000”.
1978—Pub. L. 95–256, § 3(a), designated existing provisions as subsec. (a), substituted “40 years of age but less than 70 years of age” for “forty years of age but less than sixty-five years of age”, added subsecs. (b) and (c), and temporarily added subsec. (d). See Effective and Termination Dates of 1978 Amendment note below.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date of 1989 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 101–239 applicable to items and services furnished after
Dec. 19, 1989
, see section 6202(b)(5) of Pub. L. 101–239, set out as a note under section 162 of Title 26, Internal Revenue Code.

Effective and Termination Dates of 1986 Amendments

Amendment by Pub. L. 99–592 effective
Jan. 1, 1987
, with certain exceptions, see section 7(a) of Pub. L. 99–592 set out as a note under section 623 of this title.
Pub. L. 99–592, § 6(b),
Oct. 31, 1986
, 100 Stat. 3344, provided that:
“The amendment made by subsection (a) of this section [amending this section] is repealed
December 31, 1993
.”
Amendment by Pub. L. 99–272 effective
May 1, 1986
, see section 9201(d)(2) of Pub. L. 99–272, set out as an Effective Date of 1986 Amendment note under section 1395p of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare.

Effective Date of 1984 Amendment

Pub. L. 98–459, title VIII, § 802(c)(2),
Oct. 9, 1984
, 98 Stat. 1792, provided that:
“The amendment made by paragraph (1) of this subsection [amending this section] shall not apply with respect to any individual who retires, or is compelled to retire, before the date of the enactment of this Act [
Oct. 9, 1984
].”

Effective and Termination Dates of 1978 Amendment

Pub. L. 95–256, § 3(b),
Apr. 6, 1978
, 92 Stat. 190, provided that:
“(1)

Sections 12(a), 12(c), and 12(d) of the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967, as amended by subsection (a) of this section [subsecs. (a), (c), and (d) of this section] shall take effect on

January 1, 1979
.

“(2)

Section 12(b) of such Act, as amended by subsection (a) of this section [subsec. (b) of this section], shall take effect on

September 30, 1978
.

“(3)

Section 12(d) of such Act, as amended by subsection (a) of this section [enacting subsec. (d) of this section], is repealed on

July 1, 1982
.”

Executive Documents

Transfer of Functions

“Equal Employment Opportunity Commission” substituted for “Secretary”, meaning Secretary of Labor, in subsec. (c)(2) pursuant to Reorg. Plan No. 1 of 1978, § 2, 43 F.R. 19807, 92 Stat. 3781, set out in the Appendix to Title 5, Government Organization and Employees, which transferred all functions vested by this section in Secretary of Labor to Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, effective
Jan. 1, 1979
, as provided by section 1–101 of Ex. Ord. No. 12106,
Dec. 28, 1978
, 44 F.R. 1053.

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