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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think we shouldn’t have to contribute to soch if we don’t intend to use it?

737 replies

slozenger · 27/01/2026 22:03

For example, I don’t want a state pension - so I should surely be able to opt out of soch based contributions percentage. And just pay a lesser amount to cover anything I do take advantage of.

OP posts:
nomas · 28/01/2026 00:20

slozenger · 27/01/2026 22:14

I’m still happy to pay a percentage. Just with a slight discount as I won’t be using the state pension?

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What happens if your private pension falls through or your savings end? You’ll be applying for benefits, which include a state pension.

JustGiveMeReason · 28/01/2026 00:20

ItsNotYou852 · 27/01/2026 23:50

Thanks OP, I really needed this tonight!
Though I am sort of wondering how come I'm struggling along on minimum wage instead of 75K, when I can spell, understand how NI works, and that there is no such thing as a non NHS user in the UK.

I too am only sticking with the thread to find out how I can get such a high paying job.
I've worked all my life (am a similar age to OP) but never reached anywhere near earning £75K - let alone having earned it throughout my working life - even though I can spell, do maths, have a basic understanding of economics, have an understanding of society, and have empathy to those who are struggling at any point, and also have the understanding that we as individuals don't all have the same knowledge. So I seem quite a bit more qualified than the OP.

Life's not really very fair sometimes, is it?

Despite that, everyone benefits from elements of what the state provide, even though it might be indirectly (though I can't see how someone of the OP's age has never benefited from the NHS - even if it were only at her birth and with the child immunisation programmes).

Tigerbalmshark · 28/01/2026 00:15

Grammarnut · 28/01/2026 00:04

If you are unconscious after an accident you won't have any choice about going to the NHS - and they won't let you discharge yourself if you are seriously injured or in danger of dying (in the unlikely event you could do so if in ICU).
What have you got against the NHS, anyway?
And were you not vaccinated as a child?

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Oh I don’t know, a few hours of going on about Soch, average lifetime earnings, reform, grannies and curing herself with self-inflicted ailments and they’ll be happy to let her self discharge I expect.

Original poster
slozenger · 28/01/2026 00:15

PhaedraWas · 28/01/2026 00:13

Oh dear do you have comprehension issues? I've been in the highest tax band for decades. I very much am a net contributor. Even more than most as I live in Scotland.

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Of course you do…. I believe you, millions wouldn’t.

OP posts:
PhaedraWas · 28/01/2026 00:13

slozenger · 28/01/2026 00:09

We’ve already established this. I am a net contributor, you are not.

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Oh dear do you have comprehension issues? I've been in the highest tax band for decades. I very much am a net contributor. Even more than most as I live in Scotland.

Original poster
slozenger · 28/01/2026 00:09

PhaedraWas · 28/01/2026 00:07

It's pay over £17,000 in tax. Not earn over £17,000. Approximately 2% of UK adults pay the top tax rate and I'm one of them. I've been a net contributor by miles been for years and you're talking nonsense.

And it's NI.

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We’ve already established this. I am a net contributor, you are not.

OP posts:
ilovesooty · 28/01/2026 00:09

slozenger · 27/01/2026 22:53

Well I defiantly am a net contribution because I earn over 17k

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Oh dear.

RampantIvy · 28/01/2026 00:09

slozenger · 28/01/2026 00:06

Just don’t want to use resources would rather a discount

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🤷‍♀️

PhaedraWas · 28/01/2026 00:07

slozenger · 27/01/2026 22:53

Well I defiantly am a net contribution because I earn over 17k

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It's pay over £17,000 in tax. Not earn over £17,000. Approximately 2% of UK adults pay the top tax rate and I'm one of them. I've been a net contributor by miles been for years and you're talking nonsense.

And it's NI.

Original poster
slozenger · 28/01/2026 00:06

Grammarnut · 28/01/2026 00:04

If you are unconscious after an accident you won't have any choice about going to the NHS - and they won't let you discharge yourself if you are seriously injured or in danger of dying (in the unlikely event you could do so if in ICU).
What have you got against the NHS, anyway?
And were you not vaccinated as a child?

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Just don’t want to use resources would rather a discount

OP posts:
Grammarnut · 28/01/2026 00:04

slozenger · 27/01/2026 23:13

Well I’m not going there am I.

  1. Don’t want to
  2. Self treat myself for 40 years and hasn’t failed me.
  3. Will not go out if unwell
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If you are unconscious after an accident you won't have any choice about going to the NHS - and they won't let you discharge yourself if you are seriously injured or in danger of dying (in the unlikely event you could do so if in ICU).
What have you got against the NHS, anyway?
And were you not vaccinated as a child?

SabrinaThwaite · 28/01/2026 00:03

slozenger · 28/01/2026 00:00

Oh because I’m old you call me fossil feaces nice

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You called me scatalogical. I’m happy to agree.

Coprolites were part of my undergrad thesis.

ChristmasStars · 28/01/2026 00:00

slozenger · 27/01/2026 23:13

Well I’m not going there am I.

  1. Don’t want to
  2. Self treat myself for 40 years and hasn’t failed me.
  3. Will not go out if unwell
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Well I hope I'm not an eye witness if you ever have a nasty car accident and treat your own broken leg or fractured skull.

Original poster
slozenger · 28/01/2026 00:00

SabrinaThwaite · 27/01/2026 23:59

Coprolites to you too.

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Oh because I’m old you call me fossil feaces nice

OP posts:
SabrinaThwaite · 27/01/2026 23:59

slozenger · 27/01/2026 23:57

What is a synonym for vulgarian?

Synonyms. bawdy boorish crass crude dirty gruff nasty obscene off-color raw ribald rude scatological vulgar.

Coprolites to you too.

Original poster
slozenger · 27/01/2026 23:57

What is a synonym for vulgarian?

Synonyms. bawdy boorish crass crude dirty gruff nasty obscene off-color raw ribald rude scatological vulgar.

OP posts:
FrodoBiggins · 27/01/2026 23:56

Same here. Zzz. Night @skipad, night @BlackCatDiscoClub

Ironically this thread did make me feel part of a society. A society of piss-takers, sure. But a society nonetheless.

SabrinaThwaite · 27/01/2026 23:56

slozenger · 27/01/2026 23:53

You said the piss being taken? Urine related humour does nothing for me.

it is vulgarian

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Is that like being a fruitarian but more sweary?

Count me in!

Vaxtable · 27/01/2026 23:56

I could say I want to pay for schooling, free childcare, free school meals, or anything else child related as I don’t have kids, I could say I don’t want to pay for adult social care, social workers , civil servants or anything else my taxes pay, but I do because that’s the way it is

If you don’t want the state pension then don’t claim it. But you are still going to have to pay up

SkipAd · 27/01/2026 23:54

Really have to go to bed now, but thank you so much to so many of you very clever and witty women. This has cheered me up hugely on this miserable January Tuesday. Hats off to you all

BlackCatDiscoClub · 27/01/2026 23:54

I have to go to sleep now and be a Nod Contributer but this thread has been so much fun! OP you've been a really good sport so I'm awarding you the equivalent of two Freddos rebate on your tax

Grammarnut · 27/01/2026 23:54

velvetgeranium · 27/01/2026 22:44

You could just say, sorry, you made a mistake - instead of being arsey and accusing posters of comprehension problems.

And you didn't spell it both ways for others. You got it wrong, spelling it "soch" in your title and then a further three times. Switching it to "sosh" didn't change much, as nobody recognised that either.

Sosh is a budget-friendly arm of telecommunications giant Orange apparently.

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I thought it was Sanskrit.

Original poster
slozenger · 27/01/2026 23:53

SabrinaThwaite · 27/01/2026 23:52

Sorry?

I was just reflecting back your own language. In the spirit of solidarity of course.

slozenger · Today 23:00
Tigerbalmshark · Today 22:59
£17k in tax. So that’s about £75k per year.
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Well I am already earning more than that. So I am a net contributor. TOUcHE

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You said the piss being taken? Urine related humour does nothing for me.

it is vulgarian

OP posts:
Original poster
slozenger · 27/01/2026 23:52

FrodoBiggins · 27/01/2026 23:51

The problem with that, you see, is that you'll never know how much you benefited from until the moment you die. Well, after you're dead actually given that the state has to certify your cause of death. So no time to give you the discount.

Personally I am a net contributor at present- pay lots of tax, have no children and am lucky enough to be in good health with private health cover. If that persists until I'm about to die I plan to try to "get my money's worth" by expiring in the most complicated way possible and forcing the state to hold a wide ranging inquest at great public expense. Definitely a jury, lots of expert evidence, site visits to a number of distant locations, ballistics demonstrations... well you get the idea.
It's only fair.

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That sounds like a good idea to be honest I like your train of thought

OP posts:
SabrinaThwaite · 27/01/2026 23:52

slozenger · 27/01/2026 23:48

i don’t care for urine related toilet humour

Toch!!!

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Sorry?

I was just reflecting back your own language. In the spirit of solidarity of course.

slozenger · Today 23:00
Tigerbalmshark · Today 22:59
£17k in tax. So that’s about £75k per year.
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Well I am already earning more than that. So I am a net contributor. TOUcHE