This New Bill Could Let Some Workers Collect Social Security at 60

Millions of Americans rely on Social Security senior benefits in retirement, but individuals born after 1960 may only start collecting reduced benefits at age 62; to collect full benefits, they must wait until age 67. A new bill seeks to change that for Americans who work in physically demanding jobs, allowing them to collect full Social Security retirement benefits beginning at age 60. If passed, the bill might provide support to older adults who are no longer able to keep up with the physical demands of their jobs.

Though the bill was just introduced, here's what you should know about what it might change and whether it might pass.

The tradeoff workers face today

Workers in highly physical fields like nursing, construction, roofing, and manufacturing face a tradeoff. They may enjoy well-paying and emotionally rewarding careers, but those physically intensive jobs may no longer be practical as workers approach retirement age.

Current law only allows Americans to start collecting reduced early retirement Social Security benefits at age 62. Workers who wait to claim Social Security until age 67 may claim their full retirement benefits.

That means that workers who can't keep up with their job's physical demands by, say, age 60 may need to find an alternative source of income, like a different job, to get them through until they reach age 62. Even then, workers collect reduced Social Security benefits, so finances may be tight.

The Blue Collar Social Security Fairness Act

Michigan Congresswoman Haley Stevens introduced the Blue Collar Social Security Fairness Act on September 24. The bill seeks to create an exemption, allowing Americans working in physically demanding jobs like construction, manufacturing, and more to collect full benefits beginning at age 60 instead of 67.

If enacted, the bill would require the Social Security Administration (SSA) to identify and publish a list of physically demanding jobs that the law would cover. The SSA would be required to update the list every three years.

"If we want to honor the dignity of work in this country, we need to lower the retirement age for physical laborers," said Stevens.

How eligibility might be determined

The bill doesn't require Americans to work in these physically demanding jobs for their entire careers to be able to qualify for early retirement benefits. It would use a weighted points system that uses the number of years an individual has worked to determine if they're eligible for early retirement. Individuals who accumulate 15 points or 20 total years of physically demanding work throughout their career could qualify for early retirement at age 60.

The point system changes throughout different phases of a worker's life. For example, workers earn 0.5 points for each year worked from ages 18 to 34. That increases to 1 point for each year worked from age 35 to 44; workers earn 1.5 points for each year worked from age 45 to 54. Workers could earn 2 points for every year worked from age 55 on.

How physically demanding jobs affect retirement

A large portion of American workers may stand to benefit from this bill. According to a 2022 analysis citing Bureau of Labor Statistics data, 39.1% of the civilian workforce performs physically demanding work.

That can take a toll on retirement. The Schwartz Center for Economic Policy Analysis at The New School published 2022 research indicating that individuals with physically demanding jobs are at risk of involuntarily leaving the workforce earlier than planned. Doing so may affect their financial security during retirement.

The future of Social Security benefits

This bill proposes a change that would extend Social Security benefits to workers earlier, but that also means it could tax a program that's already facing financial trouble. The Social Security Trustees' 2026 report projected that the Old-Age and Survivors Insurance (OASI) Trust Fund may become depleted by the fourth quarter of 2032, which is one quarter earlier than the 2025 report projected.

According to the Trustees, if the OASI Trust Fund becomes depleted, the program's income may only be sufficient to pay for 78% of total scheduled benefits. As a result, benefits may be reduced by about 22%.

If this bill is passed and becomes law, the earlier payments available to qualifying workers might exacerbate the program's financial challenges, raising questions about how the program could pay for these extra benefits.

Bottom line

This is a proposed bill, not current law, so no changes to the Social Security retirement age have been implemented and you shouldn't plan your career or retirement around the bill's suggested changes. At this point, the bill faces an uncertain path in Congress, especially given the larger fight over Social Security's financial future.

If you're worried about retirement or are uncertain about when you should start collecting Social Security benefits, consider speaking with a financial advisor who may evaluate your individual situation and help you determine the right moves to meet your goals. Developing a strategy early on may help keep you on track for retirement and give you extra peace of mind.

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Author Details

Paige Cerulli

Paige Cerulli has covered personal finance for more than 15 years and writes about the money news readers can actually act on. In particular, she helps people claim what they are owed from class-action settlements, understand Social Security COLA changes and Federal Reserve rate moves, and make the most of everyday decisions around insurance, mortgages, and credit cards. Her work has appeared in U.S. News & World Report and Kiplinger.