Some workers could get full Social Security at 60 under new bill - here’s who may qualify and what you need to know

For Americans who spend much of their working lives in physically demanding jobs, the idea of waiting until 67 for full Social Security benefits can be difficult. A new bill in Congress is now proposing a different timeline for some of those workers.

Rep. Haley Stevens (D-Mich.) introduced the Blue Collar Social Security Fairness Act this week. If it becomes law, eligible workers in certain physically demanding occupations could receive their full Social Security retirement benefits at 60, as per a Forbes report.

The proposal specifically points to jobs such as construction, nursing, roofing and manufacturing.


Under current rules, Americans born after 1960 can receive their full Social Security retirement benefits at 67. They can start collecting benefits at 62, but the monthly benefit is reduced.

Stevens said workers in physically demanding careers can find themselves in a difficult position as they get closer to retirement because they may not be able to continue working until 67. Stevens said, “If we want to honor the dignity of work in this country, we need to lower the retirement age for physical laborers,” as quoted by Forbes.

The Bill Would Not Cover Every Worker in a Physically Demanding Job

The proposal would not simply allow anyone who has worked a physically demanding job to retire with full benefits at 60.

Instead, it would establish a system to determine who qualifies.

The bill would create a comprehensive list of occupations considered physically demanding, with the list updated every three years.

Workers also would not have to spend their entire careers in qualifying jobs. Their work history would be measured through a points system that gives different amounts of credit depending on their age when they performed the work.

A worker could qualify by reaching 20 total years of physically demanding work or by accumulating 15 points.

As per the Forbes report, the proposed system would award:

• 0.5 points for each year worked from ages 18 to 34
• 1 point for each year worked from ages 35 to 44
• 1.5 points for each year worked from ages 45 to 54
• 2 points for every year worked after age 55

That means years of qualifying work later in a person's career would count for more points.

Full Benefits at 60 Would Be a Change From Current Rules

The proposal would create a new option rather than replace the existing Social Security retirement ages.

Today, Americans born after 1960 can claim full retirement benefits at 67. They can also choose to begin collecting at 62, but doing so means accepting a reduced monthly benefit.

Stevens' bill would give qualifying workers a potential third path: full benefits beginning at 60.

But that option does not exist yet. The Blue Collar Social Security Fairness Act is a proposed change and would have to pass through Congress.

Social Security's 2032 Trust Fund Problem Adds to the Debate

The proposal is also arriving as Social Security faces a funding challenge.

The Social Security Board of Trustees has projected that the Social Security retirement trust fund could be depleted by 2032.

That makes the future of any proposal that would allow certain workers to begin receiving full benefits earlier an important part of the broader retirement discussion.

For now, however, the existing Social Security rules remain unchanged.

Workers May Also Need Other Retirement Savings

The proposed bill is only one part of retirement planning. Regardless of whether it becomes law, workers can also look at ways to supplement their retirement income.

A traditional individual retirement account, or IRA, is one option, as per the report.

A traditional IRA is a tax-advantaged account where contributions may be tax-deductible, while withdrawals are taxed.

For 2026, the contribution limits provided are $7,500 for taxpayers under 50 and $8,600 for those 50 or older.

Anyone with earned income can contribute to a traditional IRA, according to the Forbes report.

What the Proposal Could Change

The Blue Collar Social Security Fairness Act would change when certain workers could receive their full Social Security retirement benefits.

Instead of waiting until 67, eligible workers in qualifying physically demanding occupations could potentially receive full benefits at 60.

Whether that happens will depend on what happens to the bill in Congress, but until then, the current Social Security retirement rules continue to apply.