U.S. Rep.Haley Stevens (D-Mich.) introduced the Blue Collar Social Security Fairness Act, a proposal that would allow certain workers in physically demanding jobs to receive full Social Security retirement benefits starting at age 60.
Under current Social Security rules, workers can begin claiming retirement benefits at 62, but with reduced payments. The full retirement age is 67 for people born in 1960 or later.
In a post on X Wednesday, Stevens said, “Michiganders who work with their hands shouldn’t have to work until their bodies give out to retire. I introduced the Blue Collar Social Security Fairness Act to allow Americans in physically demanding jobs to receive their full Social Security retirement benefits at age 60.”
Stevens added that, “If you put in the work, you deserve the retirement you earned.”
Age 60 Proposal
Under the bill, the Social Security Administration would be required to publish a list of occupations that qualify as physically demanding jobs and update the list every three years.
Workers would not need to spend their entire careers in qualifying jobs. Instead, the bill would use a weighted points system, with more points awarded for qualifying work at older ages. Workers would need 15 points or 20 total years of physically demanding work to qualify at 60.
Social Security Outlook
The proposal comes as Social Security faces broader questions over its operations and long-term finances. Stevens previously introduced legislation to restore thousands of jobs at the Social Security Administration.
The program’s retirement and survivor trust fund is projected to be depleted in 2032, according to the Social Security Board of Trustees’ annual report, after which incoming payroll tax revenue would cover 78% of scheduled benefits.
At the same time, some Republican lawmakers have said they are willing to consider higher Social Security taxes as Congress weighs ways to address the program’s financing shortfall.
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
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