Introduction
The problem of accessing social services and receiving state support after retirement is becoming an increasingly large concern. Particularly, the question of whether age or need should provide the basis for determining one’s eligibility for receiving state support after retirement should be seen as an important issue. Because of the current propensity toward focusing on people’s needs, especially as far as vulnerable groups are concerned, the shift toward a need-based retirement framework is expected. The identified change is expected to cause a range of alterations, which will affect people of all social backgrounds.
Main body
There are several positive changes that are likely to be observed after a new approach toward the provision of social services is integrated into modern policies. Specifically, the use of a need-based framework for social security will help to address some of the current social disparities, which may reach an even greater scale in the future. Specifically, people living in underserviced areas will require substantial assistance to service after retirement.
Thus, the opportunity for retaining what Moody and Sasser (2014) defined as “justice between generations” will become possible (p. 332). With the use of a need-based approach toward providing social services, one will meet the principles of not only equality but also equity, which is critical for disadvantaged populations, as well as the groups that currently do not have a voice in the modern U.S. society.
However, the financial aspect of changes within the current social security framework should be seen as a point of concern when considering future implications of the current trends. For instance, Moody and Sasser (2014) point to the fact that most of the current alterations to the social security framework are justified by the financial crisis that is expected to ensue as a result of the recent mistakes made in the financial and political domains.
The described issue will be of particular significance to Generation Y, which has been already affected by financial concerns such as increasing student loans and mortgage issues (Kennedy, 2017). Thus, among the key changes that the alterations to the social security system will include in the future, an increase in my retirement age and a drop in the number of financial resources that will be provided to me as I become a senior citizen should be expected.
The identified change does not bother me specifically since I realize its importance for offering more opportunities for disadvantaged senior citizens. Nonetheless, it seems that working beyond the retirement age will become a necessity for people like me since it will be one of the key opportunities for maintaining the desirable quality of life. Due to highly probable restrictions in state funding, the threat of receiving an insufficient number of the required resources rises exponentially, which means that one needs to take steps in order to ensure that one’s needs are met fully (Scherger, 2016).
While the threat of me having insufficient funds for meeting even basic needs in the future is currently rather low, I hope to pursue the ones associated with the higher tiers of Maslow’s classification system, including the opportunity for self-actualization.
Conclusion
Therefore, working beyond the set retirement age seems to be crucial for not only satisfying my key needs but also creating an environment for personal growth. Although I do look forward to having more time for leisure activities such as reading, traveling, and, possibly, sports in case I retain good physical shape, I will need to keep my intellectual and professional abilities sharp. The current system of managing the needs of the elderly is quite flawed, yet the future changes are likely to address the inconsistencies that can be observed at present. Thus, an overall increase in the quality of life is expected.
References
Kennedy, D. (2017). End of the retirement age: Embracing the pursuit of meaning, purpose and prosperity. New York, NY: BookBaby.
Moody, H. R., & Sasser, J. R. (2017). Perspectives on gerontology (custom electronic ed.). Long Beach, CA: California State University.
Scherger, S. (2016). Paid work beyond pension age: Comparative perspectives. New York, NY: Springer.