In the olden days (in fact, not really that long ago because they were around when I started work in the 70's) you had a card on which actual stamps were stuck, like postage stamps, green shield stamps, savings stamps, phone bill stamps etc etc. By having a stamp on your card for the relevant week, it showed your NI contributions were up to date. It's also the meaning behind the phrase "Get your cards" as a way of saying you're sacked.
Can I just use this thread to reminisce about those old National Insurance Stamps. For smallish firms, there was no alternative to going to the Post Office and buying these, AND there were various denominations - mainly men`s rate but also for a woman who didn`t pay full rate - self employed for directors - so you could easily end up a few different odd stamps. Now these stamps, which were half the size of a postage stamp, were EXPENSIVE. In the 60`s there was something call SET (selective employment tax) which was also included in the stamp but bumped up the value considerably. I know that on the journey from the post office back to work they were well and truly guarded (I should think that they were worth several times their weight in gold!). I had no mishaps, but did anyone else?
Male and have fully paid up 38 years national contributions so qualify for the state Pension (only req 30 years)
Redundant, 2009 and unable to claim job seekers allowance due to only take into account the previous 2 x tears ie: 2007 NI fully paid but 2008 not, seems totally unfair!
.....Any ideas of how to get around this.