Page 4 | To think when the state pension is removed, the social contract is broken?

SadiraOfTyr · 01/07/2026 11:17

Forestgreenblue · 01/07/2026 09:14

It’s an absolute disgrace. The majority of a national insurance payment goes towards state pension

When I started working I essentially entered into a contract with the government that once I had made all 35 years contributions I would be eligible for a state pension. I’ve got ten years left until I have made all contributions - so how can they justify taking all that money off all of us and reneging on their agreement? What about employer contributions too? Disgusting.

Im absolutely completely and utterly done. Andy Burnham is not interested in going for the super earners - his mates - he’s interested in squeezing the £50k plus earners out of more and more tax and now taking pensions off us. I already repay all child benefit contributions because of my earnings. But earning less now with tax increase and now potentially no state pension. Just stop it completely to people who haven’t paid national insurance.

Reduce benefits to people who are just workshy - sorry but why is someone on universal credits earning the same as someone working. I appreciate there are exceptions with disability but there are a vast amount of people simply choosing to live on benefits. This is just contributing to the unbalanced society we have with less people working. Put the 2 child cap back on and stop giving benefits and houses to illegal migrants. Sorry but this is the only way that the country will survive.

Where have you read that "Andy Burnham is taking pensions off us?"

frozendaisy · 01/07/2026 11:19

NoSausage · 01/07/2026 09:38

And then moan about NEETS.

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Yeah maybe
but more NEETS will continue to be supported by their parents and more will be unable to work. It’s the least worse option

Original poster

JulyJulyNovember · 01/07/2026 11:20

PokemonQueen · 01/07/2026 09:10

Re pensioners in "large unsuitable council houses" or "nursing homes costing thousands per week" - these feel like system issues with few alternatives.

If we move an older person from a council house into a one-bed private accommodation (ground floor) - housing benefit probably won't cover the rent. I'm not sure whether you've looked recently, but the price and availability of private rentals is terrible. People with full time jobs struggle to pay without assistance.

Re the nursing home, what is the alternative if the person needs complex care?

Older people need housing, food and care. With an aging population there's going to be a lot more older people in the future. One of the key issues is spiralling costs of basic necessities that have vastly outpaced people's abilities to save. If you're older and you don't own a home/have significant savings then you're in huge trouble. Unfortunately, that's going to be more and more of us. The UK is losing its social safety nets.

I think the answer to this is purpose built buildings with private rooms or sections, but communal spaces / medical access / nursing support.

People will hate it and call them workhouses, but I don’t think it’s sustainable to provide everyone who wants it with their own house. Not with the population increase and productivity decrease.

OP posts:

HappiestSleeping · 01/07/2026 11:20

I am mid 50s and always assumed that there wouldn't be a state pension by the time I retired. This isn't a new concept.

SadiraOfTyr · 01/07/2026 11:20

OurChristmasMiracle · 01/07/2026 08:17

This tbf. Neither of my parents made it to 68, and only - grandparent did so I doubt I’ll make it.

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When the state pension was introduced, the age limit was 70 and life expectancy was 55 years.

Now the state pension is 67 and life expectancy is 83.

I'm sure you can see where the problem is.

Sinescure · 01/07/2026 11:21

Westerled · 01/07/2026 08:18

Well yes why wouldnt they move abroad where they could maybe earn more and build a pension and be able to retire.

obviously uk wastes so much money.
foreign aid/wars etc.

We arent maintaining anything and infrastructure, huge pot holes. Closing schools for heat (even when some have air con..)

But mainly the cost of housing so many people with housing benefits. Locally it is over 2k a month for renting a 3 bed! So 24k a year. But right there is 2 pensions. A housing situation where young cant afford to buy due to ridiculous prices. Then obviously those renters wont have house money for gov to raid for care homes…

I am pro assisted dying. I dont want to live forever. Nor do i want to spend a whole house amount on care home ..

i think better than the 25% tax added to pension contributions would help. As currently most get a state pension so oay tax at 20% on all private pension (excl the 25% of fund). Even if you just gave everyone 40% tax added for a few years.

The high earners can i think put in 40k a year so 16k extra a year going in.

"Foreign aid" is not a waste and has already been drastically cut, and wars are not something we chose.

piscesangel · 01/07/2026 11:30

I do find the narrative around increases to pension ages a bit unhelpful (although I'm not doubting people believe it as it is widely shared).

PP on this thread have said their state pension age was 60 and is now 68. The first people who will have a state pension age of 68 were born in 1978. The Government announced its plans to increase the state pension age for women above 60 in 1991, so these people were 13 when that happened, and 17 when it passed into law in 1995. So I accept they could have been working when the law was finally enacted, just about, but the fact that people in this cohort would have state pension age above 60 has been known their whole adult lives

LameBorzoi · 01/07/2026 11:36

angelos02 · 01/07/2026 11:03

All of this falling birth rate would be relevant if it was assumed that all young people work however we have a million NEETs with no good reason not to be working or training.

If you consider that the UK once had 5 working people to 1 retiree, and is predicted to drop to 2 working people to every retiree, the NEETS don't scratch the surface.

Also, if we are spending so much on welfare for retirees that we can't afford to invest in education, there is little surprise that young people are not equipped to work.

ruffler45 · 01/07/2026 11:36

It will be a very brave government/party that will do it as it will be the end of them.

MargoLivebetter · 01/07/2026 11:37

@LameBorzoi who says they are not equipped to work? There is a shortage of entry level jobs, not a shortage of educated young people.

LameBorzoi · 01/07/2026 11:40

Germany faces similar issues. The title is dramatic, but it's well researched:

LameBorzoi · 01/07/2026 11:42

MargoLivebetter · 01/07/2026 11:37

@LameBorzoi who says they are not equipped to work? There is a shortage of entry level jobs, not a shortage of educated young people.

True. I do feel that young people have a pretty rough deal these days, on multiple fronts.

Friendlygingercat · 01/07/2026 11:44

The state pension was set up in a grossly inefficient way and is basically a ponzi system. Successive governments have known that there was a demographic time bomb and have kicked reforming it into the long grass. Its not the fault of today's pensioners or today's young people that the entire rotten edifice is about to implode. One poster up thread said that the people who put least into society seem to come out with the most.

Just look at the unfair and corrupt way in which pension credit works. People who have never saved or worked can get a nice little top up which is a gateway to a whole batch of further subs and handouts. This effectively makes them better off than hand working people who contributed to a modest occupational pension. To add insult to injury these modest pensions are taxed.

Nanda66 · 01/07/2026 11:44

piscesangel · 01/07/2026 11:30

I do find the narrative around increases to pension ages a bit unhelpful (although I'm not doubting people believe it as it is widely shared).

PP on this thread have said their state pension age was 60 and is now 68. The first people who will have a state pension age of 68 were born in 1978. The Government announced its plans to increase the state pension age for women above 60 in 1991, so these people were 13 when that happened, and 17 when it passed into law in 1995. So I accept they could have been working when the law was finally enacted, just about, but the fact that people in this cohort would have state pension age above 60 has been known their whole adult lives

I started work in 1981 when my state pension age was to be 60. It’s now 67. I’ve had plenty of notice and time to plan so i completely agree with you.

I reach SP age in 8 years. By then I’ll have made more than 50 years of contributions so I’ll be pretty pissed off if I don’t get one. I don’t think that will happen though but who knows.

They should abolish the triple lock but I also believe that MPs should not get an increase greater than that given to State Pensioners.

Tippexy · 01/07/2026 11:49

Jan24680 · 01/07/2026 08:12

My original pension age was 60. It's now 68. I really can't see me ever getting a state pension.

Really? How old are you? I’m not sure that’s possible.

SerendipityJane · 01/07/2026 11:49

JulyJulyNovember · 01/07/2026 08:02

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c8e2yp1gg37o

It seems likely that in due course, the universal state pension will be withdrawn. At this point, I don’t see how there will be any incentive for young people to build wealth here.

I don’t think poor pensioners should be homeless, but I don’t think they should be provided for in large, unsuitable council houses or in nursing homes where places cost thousands a week. We are moving to a more individualistic world.

Before this thread hits 1,000, I am betting that not everyone has the same idea of what the social contract is. (Which explains a lot of our dreadful politics and politicians).

Anyone for anything ?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Social_Contract

The Social Contract - Wikipedia

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Social_Contract

6ate9 · 01/07/2026 11:53

We need assisted dying which includes the option to die if you have dementia. I would choose to die over going into a care home. We have a shortage of carers which is only going to get worse.

ThingsAreNotWhatTheyWere · 01/07/2026 12:03

Tippexy · 01/07/2026 11:49

Really? How old are you? I’m not sure that’s possible.

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Hmm, agree, I'm in my 50s so in my early 20s when it first became obvious in the mid 90s that the retirement age that was then applicable was not going to hold and I'm in the age bracket where the retirement age is (fingers crossed) 67, rising to 68 for those several years younger than me. So I don't think I've regarded my retirement age as 60 for the majority of my adult life.

ThingsAreNotWhatTheyWere · 01/07/2026 12:05

piscesangel · 01/07/2026 11:30

I do find the narrative around increases to pension ages a bit unhelpful (although I'm not doubting people believe it as it is widely shared).

PP on this thread have said their state pension age was 60 and is now 68. The first people who will have a state pension age of 68 were born in 1978. The Government announced its plans to increase the state pension age for women above 60 in 1991, so these people were 13 when that happened, and 17 when it passed into law in 1995. So I accept they could have been working when the law was finally enacted, just about, but the fact that people in this cohort would have state pension age above 60 has been known their whole adult lives

Have just posted to say much the same as this!

80smonster · 01/07/2026 12:13

I’d like to see sit-on-my-arse-universal-credit dismantled first. If you can’t afford a family - don’t have one.

DontEatTheMushies · 01/07/2026 12:16

I likely wont get to retire. My parents passed at 66 and 69.

My 17yr old said they were covering pensions in their PSE class and she was told it is likely they will need a private pension pot with £3 million to be able to retire and be just about comfortable.
I don't think that is going to be doable. She is currently on a internship, and she is lucky the company pays above Min wage (she is on £1.60 less than my manager role with 24 yrs experience - same sector) . She thinks that the min wage is too low and how can anyone survive on that (oh its going to be a shocker for her we know...)

Right now in the UK, a comfortable retirement requires an annual income of about £43,900 for a single person and £60,000 for a couple.

Jaxhog · 01/07/2026 12:16

Nowisthetimeforicecream · 01/07/2026 08:28

I think there will still be a state pension. I just don't think it it will be the pot of gold at the end of rainbow it is now.

It is very sensible to have your own pension provision - why be dependent on the whims of others?

Pot of gold!!! It's never been that.

Monty36 · 01/07/2026 12:18

Anyone trying to get rid of the state pension will have a legal battle on their hands. An expensive one. A lengthy one.

Monty36 · 01/07/2026 12:21

HappiestSleeping · 01/07/2026 11:20

I am mid 50s and always assumed that there wouldn't be a state pension by the time I retired. This isn't a new concept.

But not a good one to aspire to having.

Marmalademorning · 01/07/2026 12:21

2dogsandabudgie · 01/07/2026 08:30

The problem is over population.

Then why are so many schools closing in the uk?