Blue Collar Social Security Fairness Act proposed to lower retirement age

Representative Haley Stevens has introduced the Blue Collar Social Security Fairness Act, a legislative proposal designed to lower the full retirement age to 60 for workers in physically demanding occupations. Currently, the full retirement age for individuals born in 1960 or later is 67.

The bill targets roles such as construction, roofing, nursing, and manufacturing. To qualify, workers would utilize a weighted points system based on their years of service in physically demanding positions. Points would be accumulated at different rates depending on the worker's age, with higher rates for older employees. To access early retirement at age 60, workers would need to reach either 15 total points or complete a minimum of 20 years in qualifying roles.

The Social Security Administration would be responsible for maintaining and updating a list of qualifying occupations every three years. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, approximately 39.1% of the civilian workforce holds positions classified as physically demanding, involving tasks such as heavy lifting, climbing, or sustained standing.