Married Woman's Reduced Stamp

Many women in their 40s and 50s have paid National Insurance at the reduced rate for married women, and are only discovering as they near retirement that although they will get a 60% pension on top of their husband's pension when he reaches 65, they will receive no pension in their own right.

The Government maintains that all women made a "free and informed choice" to pay the reduced stamp, and signed a form stating this.  We do not dispute the fact that many people did consciously decide to pay a lower rate of National Insurance in full knowledge of the implications.  However, SWAPP has received more than 1,000 letters from women reporting that they were not warned of the consequences at the time, or at any point since, even though they were able in theory to opt out of the reduced stamp at any point.

We are calling on the Government to write to all women who have ever paid the married woman’s stamp to warn them that their pension rights may be in jeopardy.  Click here for more.

We are asking the Government to hold an independent inquiry into the situation.  Click here for more.