diff --git a/rest_framework_simplejwt/authentication.py b/rest_framework_simplejwt/authentication.py
index e4be0f95e..d9ebc164f 100644
--- a/rest_framework_simplejwt/authentication.py
+++ b/rest_framework_simplejwt/authentication.py
@@ -131,8 +131,7 @@ def get_user(self, validated_token: Token) -> AuthUser:
         except self.user_model.DoesNotExist:
             raise AuthenticationFailed(_("User not found"), code="user_not_found")
 
-        # Ensure authentication rule passes
-        if not api_settings.USER_AUTHENTICATION_RULE(user):
+        if api_settings.CHECK_USER_IS_ACTIVE and not user.is_active:
             raise AuthenticationFailed(_("User is inactive"), code="user_inactive")
 
         if api_settings.CHECK_REVOKE_TOKEN:
@@ -165,37 +164,6 @@ def get_user(self, validated_token: Token) -> AuthUser:
         return api_settings.TOKEN_USER_CLASS(validated_token)
 
 
-class JWTInactiveUserAuthentication(JWTAuthentication):
-    """
-    An authentication plugin that authenticates requests through a JSON web
-    token provided in a request header, allowing inactive users to authenticate.
-    """
-
-    def get_user(self, validated_token: Token) -> AuthUser:
-        """
-        Attempts to find and return a user using the given validated token.
-        """
-        try:
-            user_id = validated_token[api_settings.USER_ID_CLAIM]
-        except KeyError:
-            raise InvalidToken(_("Token contained no recognizable user identification"))
-
-        try:
-            user = self.user_model.objects.get(**{api_settings.USER_ID_FIELD: user_id})
-        except self.user_model.DoesNotExist:
-            raise AuthenticationFailed(_("User not found"), code="user_not_found")
-
-        if api_settings.CHECK_REVOKE_TOKEN:
-            if validated_token.get(
-                api_settings.REVOKE_TOKEN_CLAIM
-            ) != get_md5_hash_password(user.password):
-                raise AuthenticationFailed(
-                    _("The user's password has been changed."), code="password_changed"
-                )
-
-        return user
-
-
 JWTTokenUserAuthentication = JWTStatelessUserAuthentication
 
 
diff --git a/tests/test_authentication.py b/tests/test_authentication.py
index 5ff4b9a63..cb6c3dc3f 100644
--- a/tests/test_authentication.py
+++ b/tests/test_authentication.py
@@ -266,30 +266,3 @@ def username(self):
 
         # Restore default TokenUser for future tests
         api_settings.TOKEN_USER_CLASS = temp
-
-
-class TestJWTInactiveUserAuthentication(TestCase):
-    def setUp(self):
-        self.backend = authentication.JWTInactiveUserAuthentication()
-
-    def test_get_user(self):
-        payload = {"some_other_id": "foo"}
-
-        # Should raise error if no recognizable user identification
-        with self.assertRaises(InvalidToken):
-            self.backend.get_user(payload)
-
-        payload[api_settings.USER_ID_CLAIM] = 42
-
-        # Should raise exception if user not found
-        with self.assertRaises(AuthenticationFailed):
-            self.backend.get_user(payload)
-
-        u = User.objects.create_user(username="markhamill")
-        u.is_active = False
-        u.save()
-
-        payload[api_settings.USER_ID_CLAIM] = getattr(u, api_settings.USER_ID_FIELD)
-
-        # Otherwise, should return correct user
-        self.assertEqual(self.backend.get_user(payload).id, u.id)