Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
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:
1apenny2apenny · 27/01/2026 22:37

I am happy to contribute for things that support society, to an extent. The issue I see is that those actually contributing are being expected to give more and more whilst governments give those not contributing more and more. They also in my view seem to encourage things that cost a lot but that don’t seem to benefit society as a whole eg lifting the 2 child cap.

At some point I have no doubt that those contributing will be told that actually they can’t have some of the things they need because there isn’t enough to go round and that’s when it will go very badly indeed - eg the state pension and healthcare.

Icanttakethisanymore · 27/01/2026 22:37

Is this a piss take because someone called their pension a pench?

Original poster
slozenger · 27/01/2026 22:36

BlackCatDiscoClub · 27/01/2026 22:36

Can you imagine, the police call an ambulance to a road traffic accident, the paramedic says "oh hang on, this one opts out of the NHS" and kicks the body to the side of the road 🤣

Show quote history

Admittedly, this has made me roar.

OP posts:
BlackCatDiscoClub · 27/01/2026 22:36

GrethaGreen · 27/01/2026 22:30

What do you mean non NHS- user.
If you collapse in the street tomorrow, an ambulance will be called and you are an NHS
user…

Show quote history

Can you imagine, the police call an ambulance to a road traffic accident, the paramedic says "oh hang on, this one opts out of the NHS" and kicks the body to the side of the road 🤣

GardenCovent · 27/01/2026 22:36

I don’t know who a non nhs user would be?
I have private medical cover but if something happens to me and I need to visit a&e the ambulance would take me to a nhs hospital.
Who can possibly say they will never be a nhs user?

Sunflower3000 · 27/01/2026 22:36

nah, we’re having too much fun with you now

AgentPidge · 27/01/2026 22:36

OnlyMabelInTheBuilding · 27/01/2026 22:32

Contributions to tits?

Show quote history

😂

fashionqueen0123 · 27/01/2026 22:35

what on earth is Soch? Are you in another country?

Anyway you would have used the nhs from
birth so you’re already a user.

lazyarse123 · 27/01/2026 22:35

Op is mardy and bossy. Oh and ridiculous.

Original poster
slozenger · 27/01/2026 22:35

Tigerbalmshark · 27/01/2026 22:35

wrong Thread

Edited

many thanks

OP posts:
Tigerbalmshark · 27/01/2026 22:35

wrong Thread

JanuaryJasmine · 27/01/2026 22:35

slozenger · 27/01/2026 22:33

Ok the discussion is now finished! Stop

Not your choice.

MasterBeth · 27/01/2026 22:35

slozenger · 27/01/2026 22:32

Diffrent areas, diffrent lingo

Show quote history

Yes.

That's why, if someone asks you what you mean by a word, it's usually better to tell them, rather than saying "it's self-explanatory."

SleepingStandingUp · 27/01/2026 22:34

slozenger · 27/01/2026 22:29

I think there are better ways - for example

If you want to use public services - pay more sosh.
If you do not - pay less, for example 1% discount for non NHS user.

Show quote history

So you walk out tomorrow and get hit by a car.
Do you have to swipe your credit card before I call an ambulance or leave you in the road for your private medical care providers to collect you?

AgentPidge · 27/01/2026 22:34

Ineedanewsofa · 27/01/2026 22:25

According to my google search it means ‘mindful’ in Urdu, so I’m no clearer…

Show quote history

It's "social securtity contributions" (sic) as per the OP at 10.25.

JanuaryJasmine · 27/01/2026 22:34

slozenger · 27/01/2026 22:16

I’ve never said to duly opt out. Just that I’d like a discount for what I will not benefit from.

Show quote history

Well me too, I'll opt to stop contributing to international Aud. Security, education.

my choice is just as valid as yours.

(PS Don't panic people , I don't really want to
opt not to be paying towards them!)

Pearlstillsinging · 27/01/2026 22:34

slozenger · 27/01/2026 22:16

I’ve never said to duly opt out. Just that I’d like a discount for what I will not benefit from.

Show quote history

You would have to hope that you never fell over and broke your leg then. Or you could be left lying in the road wondering how to get to a private hospital that your insurance company was prepared to pay to deal with your injury when they got round to it. Private hospitals don't do emergency care.

cardibach · 27/01/2026 22:33

slozenger · 27/01/2026 22:27

Stop being facetious. You all know full well what soch/sosh is.

Show quote history

No, I don’t. I’m 61, politically engaged and financially literate. I have no idea.

Original poster
slozenger · 27/01/2026 22:33

Ok the discussion is now finished! Stop

OP posts:
MasterBeth · 27/01/2026 22:33

slozenger · 27/01/2026 22:30

Well I think you’ll find I know how to spell it the MOST as I’m the one who used the word first. I’ve spelt it both ways for those who struggle with comprehension.

Show quote history

Maybe you can spell some more words in two/too ways/waze in/inn case/kays anyone struggles/struggles.

BlackCatDiscoClub · 27/01/2026 22:33

slozenger · 27/01/2026 22:27

Stop being facetious. You all know full well what soch/sosh is.

Show quote history

OP this falls squarely into the bracket of 'ask silly questions, get silly answers'

FrodoBiggins · 27/01/2026 22:33

BlackCatDiscoClub · 27/01/2026 22:31

Oh in which case I would also like to reduce my contributions. I only want to give 1% of my annual earnings to traditional letter press printing as I expect to be able to fund my own private letter press printing

Show quote history

Can we lower our contributions if we bring our own weights for the press? I've got some industrial sized tins of chickpeas lying around.

bridgetreilly · 27/01/2026 22:32

Nope. Everyone has to contribute to things they don’t benefit from personally in order to ensure we have the kind of society where everyone is included.

OnlyMabelInTheBuilding · 27/01/2026 22:32

slozenger · 27/01/2026 22:25

Social Securtity contributions. Prior to 2001 this was their name, and therefore how I choose to word it, as I have done for the entirety of my life.

Show quote history

Contributions to tits?

Original poster
slozenger · 27/01/2026 22:32

AgentPidge · 27/01/2026 22:31

I used to work for DSS and I've never heard of it either.

Show quote history

Diffrent areas, diffrent lingo

OP posts: