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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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:
Paganpentacle · 18/09/2026 16:49

CurdinHenry · 18/09/2026 16:01

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

Edited
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How will any of that affect your pension?

thismummydrinksgin · 18/09/2026 16:48

I guess people voting to leave can’t have their cake and eat it?

FKAT · 18/09/2026 16:42

CurdinHenry · 18/09/2026 16:40

I want to be independent from Brexit mentality and Nigel Farage types but I recognise that my pension is at risk is the point of this thread

Wish we could all declare independence from dunces and send them to a far away place

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You are seeking exile from far right types...in the EU?

OK.

Tel12 · 18/09/2026 16:41

Look, public sector employees include people who are ultimately carrying the can for this mess will certainly be making sure their pension pays out. Equally if the UK goes down the pan your pension won't be of any use anyway.

pavillion1 · 18/09/2026 16:41

CurdinHenry · 18/09/2026 16:11

🤣 phew some good news for a change

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I know get me the fuck out of here 😂 life is shit

FKAT · 18/09/2026 16:40

But not Basque independence heh?

Original poster
CurdinHenry · 18/09/2026 16:40

FKAT · 18/09/2026 16:32

Also I don't really understand the logic behind 'we want to destroy the Union but also can the Union still pay for all our benefits?'

I want to be independent from Brexit mentality and Nigel Farage types but I recognise that my pension is at risk is the point of this thread

Wish we could all declare independence from dunces and send them to a far away place

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Original poster
CurdinHenry · 18/09/2026 16:38

kentgardens · 18/09/2026 16:37

I think the one thing that is certain in the doomsday scenarios being forecast is that the EU will never never agree to parts of the UK rejoining. If Scotland , or anywhere else leaves the UK and then applies to join the EU as an independent state then all the existing countries in the EU have to agree. Can anyone see Spain with its own internal devolution issues agreeing to that? Or Italy? The EU sent Nicola Sturgeon away with a flea in her ear when she lobbied them after the Brexit vote. I do wish people had a bit more of a grip on reality sometimes.

This is an utterly 2014 argument

Bosnia is in the EU

Czechia and Slovakia are in the EU

Spain is officially pro Palestinian independence

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kentgardens · 18/09/2026 16:37

I think the one thing that is certain in the doomsday scenarios being forecast is that the EU will never never agree to parts of the UK rejoining. If Scotland , or anywhere else leaves the UK and then applies to join the EU as an independent state then all the existing countries in the EU have to agree. Can anyone see Spain with its own internal devolution issues agreeing to that? Or Italy? The EU sent Nicola Sturgeon away with a flea in her ear when she lobbied them after the Brexit vote. I do wish people had a bit more of a grip on reality sometimes.

InOverMyHead84 · 18/09/2026 16:32

Wait, are we being annexed by Russia or something?

Might have something to say about that.

FKAT · 18/09/2026 16:32

Also I don't really understand the logic behind 'we want to destroy the Union but also can the Union still pay for all our benefits?'

Original poster
CurdinHenry · 18/09/2026 16:31

GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing · 18/09/2026 16:30

What we need to do is rejoin the EU before the individual nations go independent (if they do, and if NI joins the Republic of Ireland)

Would make it all more straightforward!

Also this would prevent eg russia benefitting from the break up, which outside the EU basically blows one of their main opponent nations out of the water.

Agree with this

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Original poster
CurdinHenry · 18/09/2026 16:31

P00hsticks · 18/09/2026 16:29

But would the EU accept Scotland ?

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Yes, obviously

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GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing · 18/09/2026 16:30

What we need to do is rejoin the EU before the individual nations go independent (if they do, and if NI joins the Republic of Ireland)

Would make it all more straightforward!

Also this would prevent eg russia benefitting from the break up, which outside the EU basically blows one of their main opponent nations out of the water.

Original poster
CurdinHenry · 18/09/2026 16:30

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.

Public sector pensions aren't the state pension

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P00hsticks · 18/09/2026 16:29

Gallowayan · 18/09/2026 16:25

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

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But would the EU accept Scotland ?

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?

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

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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!

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.

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

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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.

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.

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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.

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.

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

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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.

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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