A new bill introduced in Congress would allow certain workers in physically demanding occupations to begin receiving full Social Security retirement benefits at age 60. Rep. Haley Stevens, a Michigan Democrat, announced the Blue Collar Social Security Fairness Act on Sept. 24, saying the proposal would apply to workers in fields including construction, roofing, nursing and manufacturing.

Under current Social Security rules, people born in 1960 or later have a full retirement age of 67. Workers can begin claiming retirement benefits at 62, but for those with a full retirement age of 67, claiming at 62 results in a permanent 30% reduction in the monthly benefit.

The proposed legislation would direct the Social Security Administration to develop and publish a comprehensive list of physically demanding occupations covered by the measure and update the list every three years. Workers would not have to spend their entire careers in qualifying jobs. Instead, eligibility would be determined through a weighted points system based on the amount and timing of physically demanding work performed during a person’s career.

Under the proposal, workers could qualify by earning at least 15 points or completing 20 total years of physically demanding employment. The points system would assign 0.5 points for each qualifying year worked between ages 18 and 34, one point between 35 and 44, 1.5 points between 45 and 54, and two points for each year worked after age 55. The legislation has been introduced but would still need to advance through Congress and become law before any changes take effect.

The proposal comes as retirement planning remains a concern for many Americans. The retirement age is also a significant factor in Social Security benefit levels: people who claim at 62 can receive as little as 70% of their full benefit when their full retirement age is 67, while delaying benefits beyond full retirement age can increase monthly payments until age 70.