Married Women

Until 1977, married women could elect to pay the ‘small stamp’ (a lower rate of National Insurance contribution).

This meant that they did not earn any state pension of their own and relied instead on their husband’s NI record.

Although this choice stopped in 1977, any married women who had elected to pay the small stamp were allowed to continue.

Because of the current National Insurance arrangements (especially the rules about eligibility to State Second Pension) those married women will now probably find that they are better off switching to a full stamp and they are advised to get a state pension forecast form.

Click here to get a state pension forecast application form.