We Can’t All Be Wrong – Booklet of women’s memories in reading NI1 and signing CF9

#WePaidInYouPayOut

As spokeswoman for the above group I posed the question to members:

“Who remembers reading the leaflet NI1 and signing the CF9?”

The NI1 leaflet was given to ALL women who married before April 1978 explaining that paying standard rate NI would entitle them to collect their pensions at 60 in their own right. The NI1 refers to women’s pension age at 60 no less than 26 times. It also explained that women could opt to pay the lower married woman’s rate which meant waiting until their husbands reached retirement age before they themselves could collect their pensions. The difference between the two rates was actually quite significant from a couple of pennies to a percentage of their wages equivalent to the man’s rate.

The CF9 was the form attached to the NI1 which women signed the declaration that they had read and understood the contents of the NI1 and confirming their NI rate decision.

Once signed to the effect that women opted for the ‘standard’ rate there was no turning back, but those who opted for the lower married woman’s rate could change at any point during their life time.

There was no mention that pension age would vary or was subject to change or would change in our life time.

We can’t all be wrong, as you can see from the responses below, despite the many years that have passed, we all recall that day when we were called into the ‘office’ etc., to discuss the NI rate and out pensions rights, we all remember those words, “pension at 60 in our own right” we all signed the CF9 to this effect that we would pay the extra which would entitle us to pension at 60 in our own right according to the NI1. It was an important issue for us even when we were so young, I was 17, we didn’t want to wait until our husbands retired before we could collect our pensions and we were prepared to pay for it, and we did pay, we opted to pay the higher rate.

Signing this agreement meant we couldn’t change our minds halfway through life, we signed to the effect that we would pay the standard rate contributions until we reach 60, the retirement age we signed up to, signing an agreement or a contract has two sides, that of the contributor and that of the architect, both have to liaise any changes that might take place, the architect, in this case the government failed to discuss the possibility of changes, nor the actual changes to this agreement. This is where the government has failed 50’s women, we knew when we signed that contract in the 70’s we would be retiring at 60, it’s only recently we learn that government changed the rules and expects us to accept it when we paid ‘extra’ to protect our pensions and planned for the future, there were no options of saving or private pensions for women, we weren’t invited to be a part of the occupational pensions like men, we knew we would be relying on our state pension when we retired and made arrangements to protect it by paying the extra when we were given the option to do so.

Is it any wonder there is so much anger about this issue? Please read the following comments and paragraphs from women who remember the day they read and signed the NI1/CF9 as clear as yesterday.

D – Yes married December 72 and chose to pay the normal stamp so I got my full pension in my own right at age 60! Still waiting at 63! Will I be getting that money back I wonder as taken under false pretences!

E – I started work in July 1973 & I KNOW I signed to pay FULL NI Contributions for a State Pension at 60 IN MY OWN RIGHT. There was an option to pay FULL contributions or Lower Rate (Known as Married Woman’s) Contributions which women were still paying when I did Payroll in the 1980’s

C – yep actually paid married woman’s for a few years and then changed to standard NI rate in I think 1978/9 so must have signed something twice

P – I certainly remember signing it, you can use my name! I can only say I completed it after my marriage and decided to pay full contributions in order to get my own pension at 60 years of age.

P – Married April 1974 was sent to payroll /wages at Royal insurance Liverpool. To sign consent form pension at 60 in my own right.

C – I signed it in 1977, I got married in 1977 at the age of 20, my employers at the time told me I now had a choice of paying the reduced NI payment or to continue to pay the full stamp to obtain a full pension at 60. If I paid the reduced NI and would get a reduced pension based on when my husband retired at 65. I chose full NI to obtain full pension at 60 so signed the firm yo this effect.

P – I married in 1971 having started work in 1970 first job so was asked to sign CF9 in the pay office then to carry on paying full stamp or pay married woman’s stamp. I signed. I remember it well. Little Stan Burrows rang and asked me to go to pay office. He sorted payroll

H – So do I got took in office I thought I had done something wrong

J – I remember signing it.

K – 1976 working at Littlewoods high street shop, when I picked my buff envelope which was the weekly wage up in my dinner hour, the form was pushed across to me with my wage, I was told to it was to decide did I want to pay full stamp or cheaper married women’s stamp ? She said It would give me a full pension at 60 if I paid full stamp and “if I was you at your age (early 20s ) I’d go full stamp, Sign and give me it back when you finished your dinner I Thought I was making the good decision even though money was tight being newly married.

J – I signed it

K – Had to fight pressure on me to go the “married woman’s stamp” route!

I – I signed it they said that I would get state pension at 60.

J – I signed it as was working in the national insurance office then. 1971.

G – I had also signed it in 1975 when I worked full time in the Mill and I also remember I signed it when I was working evenings at a biscuit factory. Remember it well as you couldn’t leave the ‘line’ unless it was your one break so I got two that night in 1978! We were advised to sign it and had some leaflet to read first. I wanted my pension in my own right so I could retire at 60 and not have to wait until my husband was 65! What a joke!

L – I signed it may 1974. It was a contract. An actual choice. Read through the leaflet carefully I was told by my boss before you make the decision!

J – I signed it in 1974/5 I signed this record- I remember being also told once you paid the full NI contributions – you could never go back to the smaller contributions!!

A – I signed it in 1971.I certainly do remember. My mother at the time said it would be a very good

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thing to do for when I retired then I would get a pension in my own right.

S – I signed it. I wanted my own pension not sharing one.

S – I’m in the same position, but I do remember signing something, I got married in 1975. and being told by my parents to pay full stamp which I have always done, so it must have been this form……

J – I remember the personnel lady saying the same to me and I signed a form too …..

D – Married in 1976. I remember signing a form at work to opt to continue paying full NI contributions so that I would be entitled to a state pension in my own right at 60 years old. I remember my dad advising me not to opt to pay the reduced married women’s stamp.

L – I signed it, I am surprised as the difference was quite a lot and we didn’t have much money, but being an independent cos I wanted to have my own pension and not rely on husbands contributions, thank goodness I did, my Mum paid married women’s stamp, Dad passed away 1 week before her 60th birthday in 1990 and she only got £11 per week until he would have reached age 65 which would have been 1995

K – Signed 1973. Called into managers office where I worked a week before I got married to explain about signing for full pension at 60 or pay cheaper married woman’s stamp and share husbands pension I opted to pay higher rate and signed CF9

D – I definitely remember signing this in my first permanent job and being told it was worth it to get a state pension at the age of 60 like my mother 36 years ago

G – I signed

P – I was working in a school and recall being taken into the school secretary’s office to have it explained before I signed

H – I certainly signed the form. Can remember discussing it with my workmates.

I worked at International Harvesters in 1972, I also married in 1972. I was asked whether I would like to pay the married woman’s stamp or the full stamp, In order I could have my own pension at 60. I duly signed…
Here I am 64 in 31 days. Guess what no pension. My contract ends with the NHS on 31/3/18. Hence I’m searching like crazy for another job. Tories out…

V – I know I signed it because I was a bit gobby and I thought I was about to get a warning lol. Aug 55. Newcastle – Married 19/1/73 age 17. I definitely signed it. Always paid full stamp.

S – I married February 1975 and worked for local government. I was encouraged to change to married women’s reduced stamp and was sent to the Social Security Office in Bristol where I signed to pay the reduced stamp. After a while I changed my mind and decided to change back to the standard stamp so I signed the CF9 too so that I would get my pension at 60!

S – I remember having the conversation re married woman NI I was never going to change always was independent ha where has it got me.. working full time + overtime @63 will continue to do so till I am 66

L – I married August 23rd 1971 at age 17 I know the address I lived at from June 1973 and I remember signing a form re paying full insurance or opting out for married woman’s insurance- I remember opting into full stamp for pension at 60

J – I at 17 in 1973 signed to pay full stamp (as I was married )not Married Woman’s stamp so I received my full pension at the age of 60

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S – First job after I married In 1975 I was asked if I wanted to pay married women’s reduced stamp or pay full stamp to get a pension in my own right at 60. I had to sign a form to agree to the larger contribution towards a full pension at 60.

P – That’s when I signed too

H – And me

C – Married in 1972 at 17. Worked in an old tailoring factory. Went to Darley House in Leeds ( the Leeds government stamp office, now long gone that was same street as work) on my early finish Friday. Signed a form to say I wanted to continue to pay full stamp so I had a pension in my own right at 60. Paid full stamp all my working life since.

S – I remember this

C – Married in 1972 at 17. Worked in an old tailoring factory. Went to Darley House in Leeds ( the Leeds government stamp office, now long gone that was same street as work) on my early finish Friday. Signed a form to say I wanted to continue to pay full stamp so I had a pension in my own right at 60. Paid full stamp all my working life since.

R – I remember signing something and know I paid a full stamp as they say so where Is my bloody pension

K – I got married in 1976 and remember signing the form. I asked for advice on what I should do but was told it had to be my decision. I opted to pay full stàmp. Some good that did me. I’m 60 next month and now have a 6 year sentence.

B – Married 1976 and I always paid full stamp

D – I married in 1976 I remember the option of paying full stamp but I don’t remember signing anything at the time and have Paid full stamp ever since I’m 61 and will work till the day of my 66th birthday on august 31

L – Got married in 1975 and remember going into the office at work and signing a form to choose to pay full stamp in order to have a pension in my own right at 60.

R – I married in 1976 but stayed on full stamp, I only have vague recollection of signing things that would stem from being married and name change

I remember being called into the office to sign and it was explained what it was for. I opted to pay full contributions but, I don’t think it was in the 70’s. I think I signed sometime in the 80’s.

TB – I remember the day very well, I was escorted to the accountants office, sat down, the NI1 was explained to me and I had to sign the CF9, the thing that still rings in my ear is the fact that if I paid the higher rate I could retire at 60 in my own right.

D – I rang the equivalent of Dwp when I married in 1973. I was told if paid full stamp I would receive full pension at 60 . The form was sent to me and I signed it.

I started work in 1971 as a single girl, and paid full stamp. I think I signed something in the wages

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office then, not 100% sure, but when I married in 1975, I carried on paying full stamp, I have never paid the married woman’s stamp, so would I have to have had to sign something then also? I’m sorry I’m so vague it was a long time ago, and with Fibromalgea I suffer occasionally with a fuzzy brain! But to go off the point just slightly my brain is not fuzzy enough to to not know if I received a letter to inform me of the pension age rises….no letter received…not one.

S – I married in 1976 . I had to go to the office where I worked and was asked what I wanted to do…I remember signing a form . I opted to get the pension in my own right when I am 60 and paid a full stamp….what a joke …I am 60 in 8 weeks time

M – I married in 1973 and remember there was a meeting and we were told that married women could pay a small stamp. I didn’t know anything about anything in those days but I’m so glad that I decided to carry on paying the full stamp. I was told that I would get a full pension at age 60 if I paid the full stamp all my working life. I’m sure I signed something.

T – I signed in the summer of 1980 was called into the office and they explained the form.

S – I got married in 1975 when I was 17. Was asked if I wanted to pay the married or single woman’s NI rate. Decided that I would pay the single woman’s rate and signed the contract. I remember bring told that once I starting paying this rate I could never change it to the married woman’s rate

L – I too chose to pay full stamp

C – Married in September 1976, while working for a London Borough council. I can remember receiving and signing the CF9, after I took my marriage certificate in to the Payroll department to register my change of name – and thinking what a scruffy little booklet it was for such an important decision!
My Mum advised me to keep paying full stamp, as my husband was only a couple of years older than me – she worked out that otherwise I might be totally financially dependent on him for the 3 years from my 60th to his 65th birthday.
She was 53 then, had virtually no superannuation, had always paid reduced stamp, and was not looking forward to the (in her case) 7 years of financial dependency when she was over 60 but my Dad was under 65.
DWP know that my NI record shows full contributions before and throughout that marriage, as well as after my divorce in 1983, apart from a deliberate gap from 2006 to 2013 when I was not working and already had over 30 years’ contributions. Thanks to Carer’s Credit, I currently have 38 years, but my pension will only be £134 a week because I was contracted out for so many years, although I believe that I will also inherit half of my second husband’s state second pension. (His SPA was August 2014, mine is May 2020 and we were still married when he died in Nov 2017).
Every time I look at my forecast, the website pushes me to pay the missing 7 years, which would be a total waste of money – it would NOT increase my pension as I had already more than 35 years by April 2016. It’s sheer idleness on DWP’s part that the supposedly personalised forecast does not compare the years paid by April 2016 to the 35 year rule, in order to ascertain whether the maximum pension has already been earned to that date.
I COULD buy the years from April 2017 to April 2020 and increase my pension by £13 a week, but I will not decide until after I retire, as my health is not good already, so I need to make a judgement nearer my SPA about whether it’s worth it.

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Y – Married in 1972. Always paid full stamp. Born 1952. Lost 3 years 8 months pension. Makes my

blood boil. Vaguely remember conversation about married woman’s stamp and would receive pension in my own right. Then to miss out on the new pension rate by 3 months. Also bear in mind any pension increase will always lose out on the old rate. Feel sorry for Women having to wait much longer for their pension. Bloody disgrace.

J – I can’t remember signing anything but do remember telling someone that I wanted to pay a full stamp and not a married woman’s one like my mum I married 1975

A – I remember being told the same as Jean . Because my salary would be reduced by the extra contribution to NI, I had to be sure before signing. Once signed, I could not change back.

V – Am sure I signed for pension at 60 as my husband would not have retired for another 4 years married in 1976

T – Thank you Trudy I can also remember it because my friend took the small stamp and I chose the big so that I could have my own pension

I rest my case.

C – the more I read all this the angrier it makes me, so many of us remember this very important decision in our very young lives at that time and I remember the day as clearly a huge decision that’s would affect us for the rest of our lives.

S – I remember signing the form with the understanding I will retire at 60.

A – Because my salary would be reduced by the extra contribution to NI, I had to be sure before signing. Once signed, I could not change back.

P – I married feb 1976 and definitely signed to continue paying full stamp to get my pension at 60! Incidentally, I never ever signed anything after that to say that I would take my pension at 66 instead!

C – I signed it in September 1972, shortly after leaving school, married may 1976

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The NI1/CF9 is not forgotten, it is a signed contract between worker and government. These women and so many more paid the extra throughout their working life for the right to collect their pension in their own right at 60, they were given a choice by government, they responded.

I feel government may have forgotten they gave these women a choice.

These women have not forgotten and their NI records will prove they made this decision.

They have a right to pension at 60.

Pension is Not a benefit it is right.

Trudy Baddams

All names and contact details have been withheld, but are obtainable on permission of those who contributed.

Published January 2018

#WePaidInYouPayOut

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