Haley Stevens Proposes Social Security at 60 for Blue-Collar Workers, 7 Years Earlier
Updated
Updated · CBS New York · Sep 24
Haley Stevens Proposes Social Security at 60 for Blue-Collar Workers, 7 Years Earlier
3 articles · Updated · CBS New York · Sep 24
Summary
Rep. Haley Stevens on Thursday introduced the Blue Collar Social Security Fairness Act, letting eligible workers in physically demanding jobs claim full Social Security benefits at 60 instead of 67.
The bill would use a points system tied to years worked and age, with workers needing at least 15 points or 20 years in certain jobs such as manufacturing or roofing.
The Social Security Administration would draw up and refresh every three years a list of qualifying occupations based on whether their physical demands are likely to limit work at older ages.
Stevens cast the measure as relief for workers whose bodies may not hold up into their 60s, but it lands as Social Security faces a funding squeeze and a key trust fund is projected to run short by 2032.
That shortfall could trigger benefit cuts of more than 20%, sharpening a wider debate over fixes such as lifting the $184,500 payroll-tax cap or raising payroll taxes.