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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Who is going to pay for your state pension/ care in old age?

796 replies

itsadlibitum · 01/04/2026 15:38

Apparently birth rates are falling, and this is putting future pensions (and I would imagine general tax income) in jeopardy as the population will proportionally age.

What's the solution? Should we just write off our paid for "right" to a state pension and state support for care in older age?

Does this change your view on public investment in supporting people to have children if you otherwise thought this was a personal choice and you should support/ pay for your own children?

AIBU to think that NI contributions for "pension" is essentially government mandated mis-selling and state pension will go out the window in the next few decades?

OP posts:
LiviaDrusillaAugusta · 01/04/2026 17:25

itsadlibitum · 01/04/2026 17:19

hmm, you feel old people should just kill themselves to avoid being a burden on a society that can't support them. Interesting.

Do you lack comprehension?

I said I am expecting to have to do that. I as in ME. I’m not advocating others do it.

lightoutisntit · 01/04/2026 17:24

Catza · 01/04/2026 16:59

Surely those inheriting from the boomers will be Gen X? Where did you lose an entire generation? I am an early millennial, I don't expect to inherit anything until I am well into my 60s and quite possibly 70s. My granny is still going strong at 87, my mum is next in line and she is 64.

I didn't lose a generation. I'm gen X with silent generation parents (and gen Z kids). No boomer money for me.

Obviously there will be some gen X who inherit from boomers though, because the boundaries are artificial, it's not black and white. It's still true that on average the millennial generation is going to inherit a lot from boomers.

Even if a lot goes on care home fees, that wealth is still going to benefit the family. The children of wealthy boomers will still benefit from their parents' resources, even just through having better financial resources to help with caring. And it won't all go on care home fees.

Thelondonone · 01/04/2026 17:24

Notmymarmosets · 01/04/2026 16:40

Yes absolutely. As it should be for those who want it. I would much prefer ds to inherit my money rather than it being used to fund care if I have no quality of life. Im not sure it will be available quickly enough for me to benefit so hope I have the courage to make my own arrangements.

This is my plan too. I plan to have a lovely time until I can’t then hopefully I’ll remember to off myself.

zurigo · 01/04/2026 17:23

I don't think it will 'go out the window', but I do think its value will be slashed with the removal of the triple lock - and that is the real threat for anyone who is relying on it to support them in old age.

LiviaDrusillaAugusta · 01/04/2026 17:22

MrsCarson · 01/04/2026 17:19

I think part of the problem for future generations is that the money paid in by workers isn't ring fenced for pensions and NHS, same should hold for money paid when you pay annually for your car, it should be ring fenced for roads and used for that and other transport.
Apparently if extra is collected it is put in the general fund. It should used as a buffer and saved for pensions and NHS.

Future generations can do what past generations have had to do. Work it out for themselves

hattie43 · 01/04/2026 17:22

LiviaDrusillaAugusta · 01/04/2026 17:19

If it’s any consolation I would be happy to volunteer when my time comes

Me too . I think we need to start thinking about quality of life not length of life . Who really wants to be 95 , incontinent , bed ridden and not have any awareness of what’s going on . No , be allowed to die with dignity .

Onebigargh · 01/04/2026 17:21

Netcurtainnelly · 01/04/2026 15:58

Think 60 was a bit young.

My mother retired at 50 and got teachers pension and then state pension at 60. She’s been claiming her work pension for 32 years. My father retired at 60 and claim work pension followed by state pension he’s now 87 so 27 years of pensions.

My parents then had the nerve to tell me of course I should be working hard until 67, I had to remind them they have been pulling pensions for decades. Apparently going at 50 is too young or 55 - but ok for them!

I have assumed my children won’t get a state pension and I’m sure as hell happy they have inheritance coming their way early I hope to make a difference.

PuzzledObserver · 01/04/2026 17:20

I am 62 and retired early thanks to diligently saving into a personal pension. I expect my state pension, which I will get at 67, to be paid for by the taxpayers of the time - which will include me, as once I get it I will be paying income tax.

I expect to be paying for my own care in later life, if needed. Because DH and I have made significant savings over our working lives to put us in a position to be able to do that.

I am open to whether the taxpayers paying for my state pension in the future are just NI payers or more general taxation. That’s a matter for governments and financial experts to work out.

What I don’t think they should do is introduce means testing retrospectively. There should be a long lead in time, so that people still in work have enough time to factor it in to their planning. We have factored in that we would be receiving a state pension, and they have already pushed it back from 65 to 66 for DH, and from 60 to 67 for me. But we had time to plan for that.

MrsCarson · 01/04/2026 17:19

I think part of the problem for future generations is that the money paid in by workers isn't ring fenced for pensions and NHS, same should hold for money paid when you pay annually for your car, it should be ring fenced for roads and used for that and other transport.
Apparently if extra is collected it is put in the general fund. It should used as a buffer and saved for pensions and NHS.

itsadlibitum · 01/04/2026 17:19

LiviaDrusillaAugusta · 01/04/2026 17:17

I only hope to be working at 75 because there will be no pension options so I have to support myself somehow. Maybe I won’t be able to. Once I’m too old to work, then I guess the only decent thing to do is to top myself.

hmm, you feel old people should just kill themselves to avoid being a burden on a society that can't support them. Interesting.

OP posts:
LiviaDrusillaAugusta · 01/04/2026 17:19

milveycrohn · 01/04/2026 17:18

Don't worry, the government has instigated the 'assisted suicide' bill/act.
Obviously, they don't want to pay pensions.
Pressure on elderly folk to end it all, etc etc
I know there is supposed to be safeguards, but if I look at other countries, these eventually seem to be relaxed.
(I'm retired, so this is what I see happening)

If it’s any consolation I would be happy to volunteer when my time comes

LiviaDrusillaAugusta · 01/04/2026 17:18

icouldholditwithacobweb · 01/04/2026 17:17

I have a theory that in the next couple of decades, assisted dying will become legal and some time after that, the government will incentivise it financially to encourage more people to take that route while allowing them to leave something to their families (and reduce cost burden on the state for expensive pensions, healthcare, etc).

Call me cynical, but there's going to be a harsh reality to face and there has to be a solution somewhere.

I’m okay with that. I won’t have family by that time so perhaps I could sign my assets over to the state in return for a painless death 🤷‍♀️

milveycrohn · 01/04/2026 17:18

Don't worry, the government has instigated the 'assisted suicide' bill/act.
Obviously, they don't want to pay pensions.
Pressure on elderly folk to end it all, etc etc
I know there is supposed to be safeguards, but if I look at other countries, these eventually seem to be relaxed.
(I'm retired, so this is what I see happening)

LiviaDrusillaAugusta · 01/04/2026 17:17

itsadlibitum · 01/04/2026 17:14

You hope to still be working at 75, but you don't think you will need state support after that (that someone, not you, needs to pay for)?

I only hope to be working at 75 because there will be no pension options so I have to support myself somehow. Maybe I won’t be able to. Once I’m too old to work, then I guess the only decent thing to do is to top myself.

icouldholditwithacobweb · 01/04/2026 17:17

I have a theory that in the next couple of decades, assisted dying will become legal and some time after that, the government will incentivise it financially to encourage more people to take that route while allowing them to leave something to their families (and reduce cost burden on the state for expensive pensions, healthcare, etc).

Call me cynical, but there's going to be a harsh reality to face and there has to be a solution somewhere.

hattie43 · 01/04/2026 17:16

newornotnew · 01/04/2026 15:58

Do you not think voters might have a view on that?

Voters can have a view on anything but it doesn’t alter the fact we won’t have the money . I think the next generation are buggered because more and more people for whatever reason are not working and are net takers . Everyone is going to have to provide for themselves.

frozendaisy · 01/04/2026 17:16

The state will pay our state pensions

I am expecting the age we are eligible to be increased from 68 I think we are at the moment to 69/70.

MrThorpeHazell · 01/04/2026 17:16

Boogery · 01/04/2026 15:48

Many many moons ago when I started working my expectation was that I would retire at 60.
Like my grandma.
Like my Mum.

Then they moved the goalposts and at 58 I'm looking at 9 more years.
And I feel downright ROBBED!

The pensions industry was pushing for 70 and some hard nosed realists for 72!

State pensions starting at 70 was the original age - for both sexes - when the State pension was first introduced.

midgetastic · 01/04/2026 17:16

The state pension is pretty similar to working age benefits if you assume that people can’t actually work?

so you could ditch the state pensions and put them all on the higher UC rate - or you would be no better off

i think this because those who only have state pensions tend to get a benefit top up as well

ao what you are perhaps suggesting is means testing the state pensions - essentially treating the like a benefit

which then means getting rid of NI contributions

be interesting to see where that would leave the country finances

loveawineloveacrisp · 01/04/2026 17:15

Isometimeswonder · 01/04/2026 17:11

People need to stop thinking about what they are going to leave to their kids whilst taking state pensions and state provided care.
We are all going to need to be more self sufficient.
It's daft to me that older people want the government to pay for their old age but also want to leave a load of assets to their children!

Agree with this. My kids will get the house (still a substantial amount) but I plan to spend the rest.

JehovasFitness · 01/04/2026 17:15

We moan government taxes are high but expect the state to pay us huge sums in pension.

We moan council taxes are high but make no plans to pay for our own care.

A gigantic realignment of expectations is overdue.

LiviaDrusillaAugusta · 01/04/2026 17:14

BoredZelda · 01/04/2026 17:11

They should, rightly, be supported by the state. That’s what pension credit is for.

Oh I know. I have a relative on it. She hasn’t had a job in 55 years but she gets more than if she had

itsadlibitum · 01/04/2026 17:14

LiviaDrusillaAugusta · 01/04/2026 17:13

Not necessarily, I would be 75 and much as I am hoping to still be working then,its not a given. Plus, given that so many people are encouraged to go to uni (whether or not they are suitable), that could be nearer 25-30 years

You hope to still be working at 75, but you don't think you will need state support after that (that someone, not you, needs to pay for)?

OP posts:
LiviaDrusillaAugusta · 01/04/2026 17:13

BoredZelda · 01/04/2026 17:12

The vast majority of children do not grow up not to work.

Well in that case they should be paying our pensions like we pay for today’s pensioners.

LiviaDrusillaAugusta · 01/04/2026 17:13

itsadlibitum · 01/04/2026 17:10

that is exactly the age it will start benefitting you though...

Not necessarily, I would be 75 and much as I am hoping to still be working then,its not a given. Plus, given that so many people are encouraged to go to uni (whether or not they are suitable), that could be nearer 25-30 years