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AIBU?

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Original poster

To worry about how the heck my public sector pension is going to pay out when I'm old given that the UK almost certainly won't exist by then

141 replies

CurdinHenry · 18/09/2026 15:56

How are the different nations going to agree this I don't want to be a poor old lady damnit

Suppose I'd better start putting more into the private pension too

Also my bit of the UK had better bloody well join the EU early doors

OP posts:
RappelChoan · 18/09/2026 15:58

Have I missed some breaking news?

PrettyLittleRose · 18/09/2026 15:59

Errrm, I think you may be over-reacting. Chill yer boots. You'll be fine.😎

We are NOT rejoining the EU, and it's laughable that you assume rejoining would make the UK better off financially. And of COURSE it's going to exist when you're a pensioner. 🙄The UK is not going anywhere. What on earth are you on about?!

PrettyLittleRose · 18/09/2026 15:59

RappelChoan · 18/09/2026 15:58

Have I missed some breaking news?

I think the OP probably typed this while she was asleep (and dreaming!) 😆

Serenity75 · 18/09/2026 16:00

You as an individual will still be entitled to your pension regardless of whether any parts of the uk leave (which I doubt will happen in my lifetime). As part of any negotiations between whatever is left and your part, it will include transfer of liabilities such as government debt and presumably unfunded pension schemes. The politicians aren’t going to let public sector pensions suffer as part of a separation as they have them themselves!

Original poster
CurdinHenry · 18/09/2026 16:01

RappelChoan · 18/09/2026 15:58

Have I missed some breaking news?

All signs point to the good Friday agreement trigger for a border poll this parliament (and Ireland will vote to unify)

This will fuck and isolate GB as the common travel area withers and dies

Scotland will watch with envy and decide to go the same way (and kill off the Farage threat for good) and Burnham (correctly) won't stand in the way

Wales idk I can never work out their prospects or desires

But there is a clear appetite for separation and honestly overall I'd rather be in an independent Scotland in the EU at this point but also

what about my pension

OP posts:
RikthePoet · 18/09/2026 16:01

The UK may not exist when you retire. Why would this mean that the new nation states abolish your pension?

Anarchy99 · 18/09/2026 16:02

Okay to worry but totally pointless. You can tie yourself up knots about the future but it doesn’t help.

If it’s any consolation, when I’m due to retire in about 15 years, I think it’s unlikely that I will get a penny. I have no personal pension and I’m not in the public sector so I’m potentially fucked!

Tiddlywinks63 · 18/09/2026 16:02

The UK won’t exist?
Dear god, what bs is this?
The troglodyte doom merchants are out in force at the moment!

Original poster
CurdinHenry · 18/09/2026 16:02

RikthePoet · 18/09/2026 16:01

The UK may not exist when you retire. Why would this mean that the new nation states abolish your pension?

The individual nation states will not be capable of paying out what is currently owed (the economics of the thing are dubious even in the unlikely event of non separation tbf)

OP posts:
Stompythedinosaur · 18/09/2026 16:03

I think you're being a little dramatic.

All the terms and conditions for the NHS pension are available online, you'll still get it.

It might be helpful to have a bit of time away from the news and social media if it's making you feel anxious.

Original poster
CurdinHenry · 18/09/2026 16:03

Tiddlywinks63 · 18/09/2026 16:02

The UK won’t exist?
Dear god, what bs is this?
The troglodyte doom merchants are out in force at the moment!

I assume you are English and don't follow the news outside your bit

Being pro UK is the "troglodytic" belief these days

OP posts:
Original poster
CurdinHenry · 18/09/2026 16:04

Stompythedinosaur · 18/09/2026 16:03

I think you're being a little dramatic.

All the terms and conditions for the NHS pension are available online, you'll still get it.

It might be helpful to have a bit of time away from the news and social media if it's making you feel anxious.

You cannot compel England to pay for pensions in Scotland (and vice versa) especially if it is literally unable to pay

Contracts aren't the word of God

I don't believe a Reform England would honour pension arrangements for those outside England, for example

OP posts:
Holeymoley28 · 18/09/2026 16:06

Well then you do what everyone else does and blame those who vote to leave.

Thats the rule isn’t it? If something bad happens due to a vote you blame the people who voted for it as stupid and only thinking of themselves. Brain dead, stupid, maybe even racist. I duno take your pick.

PrettyLittleRose · 18/09/2026 16:07

Tiddlywinks63 · 18/09/2026 16:02

The UK won’t exist?
Dear god, what bs is this?
The troglodyte doom merchants are out in force at the moment!

I have noticed that. 'WE'RE GONNA DIE COZ OF BLOODY A.I.' is another one just lately.

Have I slipped into a parallel universe? Has George Orwell been reincarnated?!

PrettyLittleRose · 18/09/2026 16:08

CurdinHenry · 18/09/2026 16:03

I assume you are English and don't follow the news outside your bit

Being pro UK is the "troglodytic" belief these days

Show quote history

Count me in as a troglodyte then!

Original poster
CurdinHenry · 18/09/2026 16:09

PrettyLittleRose · 18/09/2026 16:08

Count me in as a troglodyte then!

Show quote history

I mean ok

I think being disinterested in the world outside your living room isn't a great quality tho

OP posts:
pavillion1 · 18/09/2026 16:09

Ai is going to kill us all so I wouldn’t worry about your pension pot .. Spend your money on fun while you still have time

Original poster
CurdinHenry · 18/09/2026 16:11

Holeymoley28 · 18/09/2026 16:06

Well then you do what everyone else does and blame those who vote to leave.

Thats the rule isn’t it? If something bad happens due to a vote you blame the people who voted for it as stupid and only thinking of themselves. Brain dead, stupid, maybe even racist. I duno take your pick.

I think there are good reasons to vote for Irish unification and Scottish independence (and Welsh too maybe idk)

I just think it would personally disadvantage me and I worry about getting fucked over. I suppose I should hedge more.

People who voted for brexit fucked everyone including themselves so I don't agree they're similar issues.

OP posts:
Original poster
CurdinHenry · 18/09/2026 16:11

pavillion1 · 18/09/2026 16:09

Ai is going to kill us all so I wouldn’t worry about your pension pot .. Spend your money on fun while you still have time

🤣 phew some good news for a change

OP posts:
bingobangs · 18/09/2026 16:17

Well how long do you have left working? I am sure state pensions will be means tested in the future or only available from age 70 but not much you can do about it now.

Holeymoley28 · 18/09/2026 16:17

CurdinHenry · 18/09/2026 16:11

I think there are good reasons to vote for Irish unification and Scottish independence (and Welsh too maybe idk)

I just think it would personally disadvantage me and I worry about getting fucked over. I suppose I should hedge more.

People who voted for brexit fucked everyone including themselves so I don't agree they're similar issues.

Show quote history

I didn’t even just mean Brexit.

It’s all politics.

Someone will always lose out though because that’s just how it goes you just have to weigh up what’s more important.

Gallowayan · 18/09/2026 16:19

CurdinHenry · 18/09/2026 16:04

You cannot compel England to pay for pensions in Scotland (and vice versa) especially if it is literally unable to pay

Contracts aren't the word of God

I don't believe a Reform England would honour pension arrangements for those outside England, for example

Show quote history

What? 😆Public sector pensions are not paid for by "England" they are paid from the investment returns derived from the contributions of their members, regardless of where in the world they live. People who live in France and Spain and so on also get their state pensions. You are talking nonsense.

Gallowayan · 18/09/2026 16:25

PrettyLittleRose · 18/09/2026 15:59

Errrm, I think you may be over-reacting. Chill yer boots. You'll be fine.😎

We are NOT rejoining the EU, and it's laughable that you assume rejoining would make the UK better off financially. And of COURSE it's going to exist when you're a pensioner. 🙄The UK is not going anywhere. What on earth are you on about?!

Well, leaving made us worse off!! Scotland will certainly apply to join the EU if we ever manage to get out of the UK.

Stompythedinosaur · 18/09/2026 16:26

CurdinHenry · 18/09/2026 16:04

You cannot compel England to pay for pensions in Scotland (and vice versa) especially if it is literally unable to pay

Contracts aren't the word of God

I don't believe a Reform England would honour pension arrangements for those outside England, for example

Show quote history

NHS pensions aren't paid by a specific country currently, they are paid by the NHS business authority, utilising profits from the investments of the members of the pension.

If the UK broke up (and I'm not saying that's quite the done deal you seem to think) then sovereign liabilities such as public sector pensions would become the responsibility of the successor government.

So maybe don't panic!

FKAT · 18/09/2026 16:27

I've never worked in the public sector but IME private sector (defined benefit and contribution) yours and your employers contributions are invested in your pension account which has its own terms and conditions and you get an annual statement? Isn't this how it works in the public sector? It's not just sitting there in the Treasury's bank account is it?