Some people believe that the government should financially support retired people. Others think they should care for themselves. Discuss both views and give your opinion.

Question:

Some people believe that the government should financially support retired people. Others think they should care for themselves. Discuss both views and give your opinion.

Structure Breakdown for Opinion Essay

This essay requires you to discuss both views regarding financial support for retired people while clearly stating your own opinion. The suggested structure is as follows:

Band 9 Answer

In today’s society, the issue of financial support for retired people is a topic of heated debate. While some argue that the government should assume responsibility by providing pensions and subsidized healthcare, others maintain that individuals ought to secure their own future through personal savings and private investments. Personally, I firmly believe that a balanced approach is the most pragmatic solution.

Advocates for government support contend that retirees have spent decades contributing to the nation’s prosperity and thus deserve a robust social safety net. They argue that state-funded pensions and comprehensive healthcare not only honor the lifelong efforts of these individuals but also protect them from the risk of poverty, especially in cases where personal savings are insufficient.

On the other hand, proponents of self-reliance emphasize that encouraging individuals to plan ahead fosters financial discipline and independence. They warn that overdependence on state support can lead to complacency and may place an unsustainable burden on public resources. By promoting private pension schemes and savings plans, citizens can take active steps to ensure a secure retirement.

From my perspective, while it is essential for the government to provide a basic level of financial security to guarantee that no retiree lives in destitution, individuals should also be encouraged to manage their own finances. This balanced strategy not only honors the contributions of the elderly but also cultivates a culture of personal responsibility.

Vocabulary

• Social safety net
• Robust
• Subsidized
• Comprehensive
• Self-reliance
• Financial discipline
• Pragmatic
• Balanced strategy
• Personal investments
• Fiscal planning

Band 8 Answer

There is an ongoing debate over whether the government should financially support retired people or if they should take responsibility for their own wellbeing. Some believe that, after years of contributing to the economy, retirees deserve government assistance in the form of pensions and healthcare services to maintain a decent standard of living. They see this support as a way of rewarding lifelong contributions and ensuring that older citizens are not left vulnerable.

Conversely, others argue that individuals should prepare for retirement through personal savings and private pension plans. They claim that relying solely on state support can lead to dependency and may discourage people from planning for their own future. This approach promotes a sense of personal accountability and encourages better financial planning throughout one’s career.

Personally, I favor a mixed model. The government should provide a basic safety net to guarantee that all retirees have access to essential services, but it should also encourage citizens to save and invest in their own retirement. This dual approach helps to balance social welfare with personal responsibility.

Ultimately, ensuring a secure retirement requires both robust state support and proactive individual financial planning, creating a system that is fair and sustainable for all.

Vocabulary

• Financial support
• Standard of living
• Vulnerability
• Personal accountability
• Proactive
• Mixed model
• Safety net
• Sustainable
• State-funded
• Private pension

Band-7 Answer

There is a debate about whether the government should give financial support to retired people or if they should manage on their own. Some people feel that after working hard for many years, retirees deserve help from the government, such as pensions and healthcare services, to live a comfortable life. They believe that this is a way of thanking them for their contributions to society.

Others believe that people should save money and invest in private pension plans so they can take care of themselves when they retire. They argue that depending completely on the government can create a sense of dependency and may not encourage individuals to plan ahead for their own future.

In my opinion, a combination of both approaches is best. The government should provide a basic level of support to ensure that no retired person falls into poverty, but at the same time, people should be encouraged to save and plan for their retirement. This way, the burden on public resources is reduced while promoting financial independence.

This balanced approach can help ensure that retirees are well taken care of while also fostering a culture of self-reliance and responsibility.

Vocabulary

• Financial support
• Pensions
• Retirees
• Government assistance
• Personal savings
• Dependency
• Self-reliance
• Basic support
• Comfortable life
• Financial planning

Connectors Used

• However
• On the other hand
• Furthermore
• Moreover
• In addition
• Therefore
• Personally
• Consequently
• Thus
• Not only… but also