SECURE 2.0 Super Catch-Up (Ages 60–63): An Extra $3,750 You Probably Missed
The SECURE 2.0 Act made one quiet but big change: in 2025, savers ages 60 through 63 get a "super catch-up" that is roughly 50% higher than the regular age-50 catch-up. If you are in that four-year window, your 401(k) ceiling just jumped to $34,750.
The four-year window
The super catch-up applies in any calendar year in which you turn 60, 61, 62, or 63. The year you turn 64, you drop back to the standard $7,500 age-50 catch-up.
2025 numbers
| Plan | Standard 50+ catch-up | Super catch-up (60–63) |
|---|---|---|
| 401(k) / 403(b) / Solo 401(k) employee | $7,500 | $11,250 |
| 457(b) | $7,500 | $11,250 |
| SIMPLE IRA | $3,500 | $5,250 |
| IRA | $1,000 | $1,000 (no super catch-up) |
Total 2025 employee deferral if you are 60–63
$23,500 base + $11,250 super catch-up = $34,750 per plan. Stack a 457(b) and you can defer $69,500 of salary in a single year before any employer contribution.
Mandatory Roth catch-up starts in 2026
Under SECURE 2.0 §603, beginning January 1, 2026, anyone whose prior-year FICA wages exceeded $145,000 must make their catch-up contribution into a Roth account. You lose the immediate tax deduction, but you gain tax-free growth. If your plan does not yet offer a Roth option, ask HR now — by 2026 your catch-up will not be allowed at all unless it can go to Roth.
What to do this year
- If you are 60–63 in 2025, raise your deferral percentage so you hit $34,750 by year end.
- Check whether your plan supports the super catch-up. It is optional for employers, though most large plans have adopted it.
- If you have a 457(b) too, do not forget — it stacks separately.
Not sure whether your current deferrals are using your full super catch-up? Run your free RetirementCheck101 analysis — the worksheet asks for your age and adjusts your limits automatically.