r/Socialism_101 • u/Outrageous_Big_9136 Learning • 2d ago

Question Those who cannot work?

I'm fairly new to Socialist thought, but if everyone is contributing what they can... how are those taken care of who are of retirement age or are too disabled to work?

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u/LeftyInTraining Learning 2d ago

They are supported as best as the society can. Depending on how developed the society is, they may be able to assist more or less. During lower stage socialism, society is able to support an ideal of "from each according to their ability, to each according to their work." Society may not have the ability to support those who cannot work as much as we would like, but, for example, early USSR had laws about supporting those who couldnt work. 

But when society has developed to higher stage socialism, society is able to support an ideal of "from each according to their work, to each according to their need." At this point, society has more than enough resources to support those unable to work, including supporting accommodations allowing them to engage in work or society as much as they desire.