WASHINGTON, D.C. — Rep. Haley Stevens (D-Mich.) introduced the Blue Collar Social Security Fairness Act, a bill that would allow eligible Americans in physically demanding occupations to collect full Social Security retirement benefits at age 60, on Sept. 24. 

Under current law, Americans born after 1960 can receive full retirement benefits at age 67. They can begin collecting reduced benefits at age 62. Stevens said workers in physically demanding jobs may struggle to continue working until they reach full retirement age.

The proposed legislation would lower the full retirement age to 60 for eligible workers. Covered occupations would include construction, HVAC, plumbing, roofing, nursing, and manufacturing, among others.

The bill directs the Social Security Administration to develop and publish a comprehensive list of qualifying occupations. The agency would update that list every three years.

Eligibility would be based on a weighted points system. Workers would not need to spend their entire careers in physically demanding jobs. Instead, they would qualify by accumulating at least 15 points or 20 total years of qualifying work.

The proposed points system would award credit based on the worker’s age during each year of employment:

• 0.5 points for each year worked between ages 18 and 34;

• 1 point for each year worked between ages 35 and 44;

• 1.5 points for each year worked between ages 45 and 54; and

• 2 points for each year worked after age 55.

Stevens said the proposal is intended to address the challenges faced by workers whose jobs place sustained physical demands on their bodies. She also said the legislation could encourage more Americans to pursue skilled trades and other labor-intensive careers by offering the possibility of earlier full retirement benefits.

“Michiganders who work with their hands shouldn’t be forced to wait until their bodies give out to retire,” Stevens said. “If we want to honor the dignity of work in this country, we need to lower the retirement age for physical laborers. I look forward to bringing together my colleagues in Congress to fix this glaring issue for Michigan workers, strengthen Social Security, and ensure its solvency for generations of Americans to come.”

The Blue Collar Social Security Fairness Act must advance through the legislative process before it can become law. After introduction, the bill would generally be referred to a congressional committee for review, where lawmakers could hold hearings, consider amendments and decide whether to advance it. If approved by the committee, it would need to pass the House and Senate and be signed by the president. Until those steps are completed, the proposal would not change current Social Security eligibility rules.

The bill comes as Social Security faces a long-term funding shortfall. According to the 2026 Social Security Trustees Report, the combined retirement and disability trust fund reserves are projected to be depleted in the third quarter of 2034. That does not mean Social Security will stop paying benefits. Payroll taxes and other incoming revenue would still cover an estimated 83% of scheduled benefits at that point, absent congressional action. The retirement and survivors insurance trust fund alone is projected to deplete its reserves in late 2032, leaving enough income to pay 78% of scheduled benefits. These projections put pressure on Congress to consider changes to Social Security’s financing and benefits, though the trustees’ estimates may change as economic and demographic conditions evolve.