Haley Stevens Proposes Social Security at 60 for 39.1% in Physically Demanding Jobs
Updated
Updated · CNBC · Sep 23
Haley Stevens Proposes Social Security at 60 for 39.1% in Physically Demanding Jobs
3 articles · Updated · CNBC · Sep 23
Summary
Rep. Haley Stevens introduced the Blue Collar Social Security Fairness Act, letting eligible workers in physically demanding jobs claim full Social Security benefits at age 60 instead of waiting until 67.
The bill targets workers such as those in construction, roofing, nursing and manufacturing, arguing many cannot safely stay on the job long enough to avoid reduced benefits that now begin at 62.
Workers would qualify by earning 15 points under a weighted system tied to years spent in qualifying jobs or by logging 20 total years of physically demanding work; the Social Security Administration would update the job list every three years.
Bureau of Labor Statistics data cited in the proposal says 39.1% of the civilian workforce holds physically demanding jobs, while research has found those workers are more likely to leave the labor force earlier than planned.
The proposal lands as Social Security faces looming trust-fund depletion and Congress debates taxes, benefit cuts and targeted increases, leaving its legislative prospects uncertain.