Margaret Watts' Story

Margaret Watts founded and heads up the SWAPP network.  She writes:

Recently, I was discussing with a colleague the disadvantages of paying a Reduced Stamp when an elderly man joined in the conversation stating: "I read about a woman in our local paper who paid that stamp and she says she will only get 7p a week pension; I can't believe it, must be an isolated case".  I smiled and thought to myself "IF ONLY!"

When I gave my story to the local paper, The Dorset Echo, I never expected the response I received.  The women who telephoned me all confirmed the accuracy of my story, which I found very reassuring.  They  endorsed my statement that I had not been told the payment of this stamp disqualified me from receiving a pension in my own right.  Like me, all believed it was automatic for women as soon as they married to pay this stamp.

Many of the women found difficulty in coming to terms with the fact that they had paid a stamp, albeit reduced, for numerous years and were not entitled to a pension at sixty.  Like me, they felt this devalues the amount we will receive in parity to women who have contributed nothing.

Sadly some of the women were over sixty and a few were still working full time to make ends meet.  Listening to these women I realised that there is a group of pensioner poverty in the 60 to 65 plus age group not accounted for.  I felt this to be a frightening statistic and feel it must be addressed.

My experience encouraged two other women to tell their story and so more women came forward to air their dissatisfaction.  I advised all the women to write to their Member of Parliament and state their grievance and to ask friends and acquaintances in the same position to do likewise.  It is only Parliament that can redress this issue so it is with our MPs that our campaign must start. 

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