Page 37 | To think we can't afford the triple lock

paddleboardingmum · 2026-09-15T07:47:31+00:00

Things seem very weighted against young people right now in terms of tax, student loans, and then there's the cost of mortgages and childcare. I know there are some older people struggling and I do feel sorry for them. But plenty are not and I think we just can't afford the triple lock at the moment. AIBU

Beece · 18/09/2026 18:13

BIossomtoes · 18/09/2026 17:12

How would you propose changing it?

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We should have utter transparency. Everyone in the public sector on a DC scheme with the employer contributing a mandatory 12-15%, with this the minimum for private sector employees too. I can see no reason why that wouldn’t be perfectly fair.

Original poster

paddleboardingmum · 18/09/2026 18:14

So some pensioners have a personal pension in addition to state pension - or are still working - yet that still isn't considered 'enough' to live on.

Which definitely suggests that the state pension isn't too high!

It's certainly not unusual in the UK today to feel you've not got enough to live on.

OP posts:

strawberrybubblegum · 18/09/2026 18:17

BIossomtoes · 18/09/2026 17:46

Hardly surprising when you consider that 75% of the NHS budget is staff costs. Obviously the 25% includes employer contributions for those still working. The average NHS pension in payment is roughly £7,300 to £10,000 a year. Hardly a king’s ransom.

The NHS pays a standard employer contribution rate of 23.7% of pensionable pay into the pension scheme.

Average private sector employer pension contribution is under 6% of pay.

As I said before, public sector pay is at least equal to private sector pay for equivalent work. There's no excuse for the huge discrepancy in public sector pension contributions they choose to gift themselves.

BIossomtoes · 18/09/2026 18:28

strawberrybubblegum · 18/09/2026 18:17

The NHS pays a standard employer contribution rate of 23.7% of pensionable pay into the pension scheme.

Average private sector employer pension contribution is under 6% of pay.

As I said before, public sector pay is at least equal to private sector pay for equivalent work. There's no excuse for the huge discrepancy in public sector pension contributions they choose to gift themselves.

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Nobody gifts themselves anything. Public sector pensions are government administered. And no party seriously seeking power would change them.

strawberrybubblegum · 18/09/2026 18:29

And 25% of the NHS budget is £45billion, which most definitely is a King's ransom!

Being used to pay for current NHS pensions today, and chalked up as a liability for our children to pay.

strawberrybubblegum · 18/09/2026 18:30

BIossomtoes · 18/09/2026 18:28

Nobody gifts themselves anything. Public sector pensions are government administered. And no party seriously seeking power would change them.

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The government are public sector. Public sector handing out sweeties to public sector. What a surprise.

BIossomtoes · 18/09/2026 18:31

strawberrybubblegum · 18/09/2026 18:29

And 25% of the NHS budget is £45billion, which most definitely is a King's ransom!

Being used to pay for current NHS pensions today, and chalked up as a liability for our children to pay.

Our children presumably will continue to require healthcare. And be prepared to pay for it.

strawberrybubblegum · 18/09/2026 18:33

BIossomtoes · 18/09/2026 18:31

Our children presumably will continue to require healthcare. And be prepared to pay for it.

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But they'll still be paying for this generations current healthcare, in pension liabilities. As well as their own healthcare at the time they need it.

strawberrybubblegum · 18/09/2026 18:35

Because the government are using pension liabilities which will come due in the future as a bribe to current NHS workers.

Paying for current consumption out with future - ever increasing - liabilities.

BIossomtoes · 18/09/2026 18:35

strawberrybubblegum · 18/09/2026 18:33

But they'll still be paying for this generations current healthcare, in pension liabilities. As well as their own healthcare at the time they need it.

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That’s how a civilised society works. I paid for a war that finished eight years before I was born for the first 36 years of my working life.

strawberrybubblegum · 18/09/2026 18:41

BIossomtoes · 18/09/2026 18:35

That’s how a civilised society works. I paid for a war that finished eight years before I was born for the first 36 years of my working life.

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And enjoyed the peace dividend of that war for your entire working life. It's just starting to taper off now. You got a pretty good deal!

That's nothing like paying for this generation's excessive expectations of state largesse on the never-never.

11AndCounting · 18/09/2026 18:46

BIossomtoes · 18/09/2026 17:51

That’s contributions. The total pension cost of current workers and pensioners in the NHS is 25% of its total budget.

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Could you hook me up with a source for the 25%, please? Couldn't trace it myself but you do seem to know what you're taking about.

BIossomtoes · 18/09/2026 18:47

strawberrybubblegum · 18/09/2026 18:41

And enjoyed the peace dividend of that war for your entire working life. It's just starting to taper off now. You got a pretty good deal!

That's nothing like paying for this generation's excessive expectations of state largesse on the never-never.

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Which generation? There are currently six generations receiving healthcare in this country.

BIossomtoes · 18/09/2026 18:55

11AndCounting · 18/09/2026 18:46

Could you hook me up with a source for the 25%, please? Couldn't trace it myself but you do seem to know what you're taking about.

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The King’s Fund says: Also out of £188.5billion, 25% goes to pay pensions, so you can see staff costs equate to the best part of 75% of the COMPLETE NHS budget. according to AI. Unfortunately I’m unable to find a link to the primary source. Your research skills may be better than mine.

Differentforgirls · 18/09/2026 19:01

Katypp · 18/09/2026 14:13

What do you mean by 'fully funded'? Surely all workplace pensions are fully funded. Unless you mean your payments were not matched by your LA as the employer? That would be very unusual.

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No, I mean that my pension is funded by the pension scheme investing. Not by the tax payer.

Differentforgirls · 18/09/2026 19:07

Thinkofnewthings · 18/09/2026 16:00

Well, yes, it’s those public service pensions that should be reduced/got rid of, not the state pension. I would put that as a priority.

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Ok so I paid 8% of my salary into my LG pension for 43 years. Should I have got nothing back?

Differentforgirls · 18/09/2026 19:12

strawberrybubblegum · 18/09/2026 17:25

No, they won't.

And it's our children who will pay for that.

Which is what's unforgivable.

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Both my children will get LG pensions.

Beece · 18/09/2026 19:15

Differentforgirls · 18/09/2026 19:07

Ok so I paid 8% of my salary into my LG pension for 43 years. Should I have got nothing back?

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But 8% is paltry for the pension received. What people begrudge is the truly vast contribution made by your employer (the state) to top your contribution up to allow you to receive a vast pension.

Tedsnan1 · 18/09/2026 19:17

MyManinCaracas · 15/09/2026 09:35

Cut pip significantly and don’t allow entire families to live feral lives on benefits.

I'm unable to work at all due to physical and cognitive dysfunction. Last winter I had no heating on, and am planning the same this year. If PIP is cut at all, never mind significantly, then I won't be eating either, or paying my tv licence, or able to afford a phone or Internet which keep me connected to the world. Many others will be similarly affected. Is this your plan, to just kill us all off?

Differentforgirls · 18/09/2026 19:17

Beece · 18/09/2026 19:15

But 8% is paltry for the pension received. What people begrudge is the truly vast contribution made by your employer (the state) to top your contribution up to allow you to receive a vast pension.

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It’s hardly vast and I lost 6 years service because I job shared for 12 to look after my children. No free child care benefits.

Thinkofnewthings · 18/09/2026 19:31

Differentforgirls · 18/09/2026 19:17

It’s hardly vast and I lost 6 years service because I job shared for 12 to look after my children. No free child care benefits.

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But that’s how it is for those in the private sector too. What do you mean?

Katypp · 18/09/2026 19:38

Beece · 18/09/2026 19:15

But 8% is paltry for the pension received. What people begrudge is the truly vast contribution made by your employer (the state) to top your contribution up to allow you to receive a vast pension.

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Correct. I certainly begrudge it.
@Differentforgirls how much did your employer contribute?
I get 3%

Katypp · 18/09/2026 19:40

Look around you.
The only people i know who retired early (55ish) are either people with no children who could load cash into their pension throughout their working life or public sector workers.

BIossomtoes · 18/09/2026 19:52

Beece · 18/09/2026 19:15

But 8% is paltry for the pension received. What people begrudge is the truly vast contribution made by your employer (the state) to top your contribution up to allow you to receive a vast pension.

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Vast? They might be vast for mandarins but for women the average pension is now £7,502 a year, and for men it is £13,513. The overall average Civil Service pension in payment is £9,874 a year, well below the basic tax threshold.

https://www.cspa.co.uk/news/civil-service-pensions-set-to-rise-by-6-7-from-april-as-cpi-inflation-confirmed/

11AndCounting · 18/09/2026 20:03

BIossomtoes · 18/09/2026 18:55

The King’s Fund says: Also out of £188.5billion, 25% goes to pay pensions, so you can see staff costs equate to the best part of 75% of the COMPLETE NHS budget. according to AI. Unfortunately I’m unable to find a link to the primary source. Your research skills may be better than mine.

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AI seems to be pulling that from an erroneous user comment.

The Kings' Fund doesn't give a breakdown of how much is spent on each type of remuneration, just a total of 50% for all forms.

The government source I posted earlier gives the ~7% figure for pensions.

And, respectfully, 25% of the budget on pensions doesn't really seem to pass the smell test.