US Code

Public Law 119-73 (01/23/2026)

5 U.S.C. § 8501

Definitions

For the purpose of this subchapter—
(1)
“Federal service” means service performed after 1952 in the employ of the United States or an instrumentality of the United States which is wholly or partially owned by the United States, but does not include service (except service to which subchapter II of this chapter applies) performed—
(A)
by an elective official in the executive or legislative branch;
(B)
as a member of the armed forces or the Commissioned Corps of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration;
(C)
by members of the Foreign Service for whom payments are provided under section 609(b)(1) of the Foreign Service Act of 1980;
(D)
outside the United States, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands by an individual who is not a citizen of the United States;
(E)
by an individual excluded by regulations of the Office of Personnel Management from the operation of subchapter III of chapter 83 of this title because he is paid on a contract or fee basis;
(F)
by an individual receiving nominal pay and allowances of $12 or less a year;
(G)
in a hospital, home, or other institution of the United States by a patient or inmate thereof;
(H)
section 5351 of this title by a student-employee as defined by ;
(I)
by an individual serving on a temporary basis in case of fire, storm, earthquake, flood, or other similar emergency;
(J)
by an individual employed under a Federal relief program to relieve him from unemployment;
(K)
as a member of a State, county, or community committee under the Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Service or of any other board, council, committee, or other similar body, unless the board, council, committee, or other body is composed exclusively of individuals otherwise in the full-time employ of the United States; or
(L)
by an officer or a member of the crew on or in connection with an American vessel—
(i)
owned by or bareboat chartered to the United States; and
(ii)
whose business is conducted by a general agent of the Secretary of Commerce;
section 3305(g) of title 26if contributions on account of the service are required to be made to an unemployment fund under a State unemployment compensation law under ;
(2)
“Federal wages” means all pay and allowances, in cash and in kind, for Federal service;
(3)
“Federal employee” means an individual who has performed Federal service;
(4)
“compensation” means cash benefits payable to an individual with respect to his unemployment including any portion thereof payable with respect to dependents;
(5)
“benefit year” means the benefit year as defined by the applicable State unemployment compensation law, and if not so defined the term means the period prescribed in the agreement under this subchapter with a State or, in the absence of such an agreement, the period prescribed by the Secretary of Labor;
(6)
“State” means the several States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands;
(7)
“United States”, when used in a geographical sense, means the States; and
(8)
“base period” means the base period as defined by the applicable State unemployment compensation law for the benefit year.

Pub. L. 89–55480 Stat. 585Pub. L. 94–566, title I, § 116(e)(1)90 Stat. 2672Pub. L. 95–454, title IX, § 906(a)(2)92 Stat. 1224Pub. L. 96–215, § 4(a)94 Stat. 124Pub. L. 96–465, title II, § 2314(h)94 Stat. 2168(, , ; , title II, § 214(b), , , 2678; , , ; , , ; , , .)

Historical and Revision Notes

Derivation

U.S. Code

Revised Statutes and

Statutes at Large

 

42 U.S.C. 1361.

Sept. 1, 1954, ch. 1212, § 4(a) “Sec. 1501”, 68 Stat. 1130.

 

 

Aug. 28, 1958, Pub. L. 85–848, § 2, 72 Stat. 1087.

 

 

July 12, 1960, Pub. L. 86–624, § 30(g), 74 Stat. 420.

 

 

Sept. 13, 1960, Pub. L. 86–778, §§ 531(e), 542(d), 74 Stat. 984, 986.

Clause (4) of former section 1361(a) is omitted as obsolete.

In paragraph (1)(A), the word “official” is substituted for “officer” because of the definition of “officer” in section 2104. The words “of the Government of the United States” are omitted as unnecessary.

In paragraph (1)(E), the words “by regulations of the Civil Service Commission from the operation of subchapter III of chapter 83 of this title” are substituted for “by Executive order from the operation of the Civil Service Retirement Act of 1930” on authority of the Civil Service Retirement Act Amendments of 1956, which are carried into subchapter III of chapter 83.

In paragraph (1)(K), the words “Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Service” are substituted for “Production and Marketing Administration” on authority of Secretary’s memorandum 1320, supp. 4 of .

section 1606(g) of Title 26In paragraph (1)(L), the words “, Internal Revenue Code of 1939” in former section 1361(a)(13) are omitted as obsolete.

The last sentence of former section 1361 is omitted as its substance is included in paragraph (1)(D).

Former section 1361(f) is omitted as unnecessary as the full title of the Secretary of Labor is set out the first time it is used in each section.

Act of Aug. 14, 1935, ch. 53149 Stat. 64742 U.S.C. 1301(a)(1)Paragraphs (6) and (7) are added on authority of section 1101(a)(1), (2) of the , , as amended; , (2).

Standard changes are made to conform with the definitions applicable and the style of this title as outlined in the preface to the report.

Editorial Notes

References in Text

section 4009(b)(1) of Title 22Section 609(b)(1) of the Foreign Service Act of 1980, referred to in par. (1)(C), is classified to , Foreign Relations and Intercourse.

Amendments

Pub. L. 96–2151980—Par. (1)(B). inserted “or the Commissioned Corps of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration” after “armed forces”.

Pub. L. 96–465Par. (1)(C). substituted “members of the Foreign Service for whom payments are provided under section 609(b)(1) of the Foreign Service Act of 1980” for “Foreign Service personnel for whom special separation allowances are provided under chapter 14 of title 22”.

Pub. L. 95–4541978—Par. (1)(E). substituted “Office of Personnel Management” for “Civil Service Commission”.

Pub. L. 94–566, § 116(e)(1)1976—Par. (6). , added the Virgin Islands in definition of “State”.

Pub. L. 94–566, § 214(b)Par. (8). , added par. (8).

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date of 1980 Amendments

Pub. L. 96–465section 2403 of Pub. L. 96–465section 3901 of Title 22Amendment by effective , except as otherwise provided, see , set out as an Effective Date note under , Foreign Relations and Intercourse.

Pub. L. 96–215, § 4(c)94 Stat. 124

section 8521 of this title“The amendments made by this section [amending this section and ] shall apply with respect to assignments of services and wages pursuant to any first claim (for a benefit year) which is filed after the date of the enactment of this Act [].”
, , , provided that:

Effective Date of 1978 Amendment

Pub. L. 95–454section 907 of Pub. L. 95–454section 1101 of this titleAmendment by effective 90 days after , see , set out as a note under .

Effective Date of 1976 Amendment

section 116(e)(1) of Pub. L. 94–566section 3304(a) of Title 26section 116(f)(3) of Pub. L. 94–566section 3304 of Title 26Amendment by applicable with respect to benefit years beginning on or after the later of , or the first day of the first week for which compensation becomes payable under an unemployment compensation law of the Virgin Islands which is approved by the Secretary of Labor under , Internal Revenue Code, see , set out as a note under .

Pub. L. 94–566, title II, § 214(c)90 Stat. 2678

section 8505 of this title“The amendments made by this section [amending this section and ] shall apply with regard to compensation paid on the basis of claims for compensation filed on or after ”.
, , , provided that:

Temporary 1990 Census Services Constituting Federal Service

section 141 of Pub. L. 101–382section 23 of Title 13Determination respecting temporary 1990 census services as Federal service for purposes of this subchapter, see , set out as a note under , Census.