US Social Security bill: Lawmaker wants full retirement benefits at 60 for workers in physically demanding roles

A US lawmaker has proposed letting workers in physically demanding jobs claim full Social Security retirement benefits at 60, seven years earlier than the current full retirement age of 67.

Democratic Representative Haley Stevens of Michigan introduced the Blue Collar Social Security Fairness Act in the House of Representatives on Wednesday, CNBC reported.

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The bill covers occupations such as construction, roofing, nursing and manufacturing, where workers often find it hard to stay on the job until the standard age milestones.

Stevens, who is also a US Senate candidate from Michigan, said people who work with their hands should not have to "wait until their bodies give out to retire."

In her statement, she argued that honouring the dignity of work means lowering the retirement age for physical labourers.

What does the bill propose?

Social Security is the US federal retirement and benefits programme, funded largely by payroll taxes. Under current rules, the earliest age to claim retirement benefits is 62, but monthly payments are permanently reduced. Those born in 1960 or later get 100% of earned benefits only at 67. Each year of delay beyond that, up to age 70, raises the benefit by 8%.

The bill would create a separate route to full benefits at 60 for eligible workers. It directs the Social Security Administration (SSA) to draw up a list of qualifying physically demanding occupations and to update it every three years.

How would eligibility be decided?

Workers would not need a whole career in such jobs. The bill uses a weighted points system that gives more credit for years worked later in life:

• 0.5 points for each year worked between ages 18 and 34
• 1 point for each year between 35 and 44
• 1.5 points for each year between 45 and 54
• 2 points for each year from 55 onwards

A worker would qualify at 60 with a total of 15 points, or with 20 years of physically demanding work in all.

Why does it matter?

The US Bureau of Labor Statistics defines physically demanding jobs as those requiring set levels and durations of exertion such as climbing, heavy lifting, pushing, pulling, standing or walking. CNBC cited the agency's data showing that 39.1% of the civilian workforce is in such jobs.

The proposal also draws on research from the Schwartz Center for Economic Policy Analysis at The New School. A 2022 study found that workers in physically demanding jobs face a higher risk of leaving the workforce earlier than planned, which can weaken their retirement security.

What are the hurdles?

The bill comes as the programme's finances are under strain. The 2026 Social Security Trustees Report, released on June 9, projects that the Old-Age and Survivors Insurance trust fund, which pays retirement benefits, will be depleted in the fourth quarter of 2032. Income at that point would cover only 78% of scheduled benefits. The combined retirement and disability funds are projected to last until 2034.

Lawmakers could close the gap through higher taxes, lower benefits or a mix of both. CNBC noted that advocates have called for targeted increases for vulnerable beneficiaries, particularly low-income Americans. Allowing full benefits at 60 would add to the pressure on a system already facing a shortfall.

Whether the bill gains traction in Congress remains to be seen, CNBC said. Republicans currently control both chambers. Stevens had earlier co-sponsored the Social Security Fairness Act of 2023, which became law.