Contracted Out. The National Insurance Act 1959 added earnings-related graduated pensions to the National Insurance system. Some employees (teachers, nurses, police, etc with private pension schemes) were allowed to Contract Out from the graduated part of the state scheme by paying adjusted flat-rate contributions. They would receive a reduced state pension but built up private pension benefits instead. Contracting Out ended in Apr 2016 with the introduction of a single-tier state pension.
The effect on National Insurance stamps was the addition of seven new Contracted Out rates, increasing the previous 29 rates to 36. Initially, the Mercantile Marine “CO” stamps shared the design of the other “CO” stamps but this changed in October 1967 to share the design of the other Mercantile Marine stamps instead.
April 1961 Issue
Date: 3 Apr 1961 – 2 July 1961
Printer: HM Stationery Office
Process: Photogravure
Watermark: Block MNI
For this issue, there were 34 stamps for 36 rates: the rates for a Boy Abroad and a Boy Mercantile Marine were both 11/3 so shared a stamp, and the rate for a Girl Abroad & Exempt was 4/3 but no stamp was issued.
Employed
Self-employed
Non-employed
July 1961 Issue
Date: 3 July 1961 – 2 June 1963
Printer: HM Stationery Office
Process: Photogravure
Watermark: Block MNI
The second issue of the year had 31 stamps for 36 rates: the rates for a Class 1 Abroad & Exempt Man and for a Class 2 Boy were both 7/11 so shared a stamp (with superimposed rectangle and oval), the rates for an Exempt Mercantile Marine and for an Exempt Contracted Out Man were both 8/1 so shared a stamp, the four Industrial Injuries rates were unchanged so used the previous stamps, and the rate for a Girl Abroad & Exempt was 4/5 but no stamp was issued.
Employed
Self-employed
Non-employed
(unchanged)
June 1963 Issue
Date: 3 June 1963 – 28 Mar 1965
Printer: HM Stationery Office
Process: Photogravure
Watermark: Block MNI
Employed
Self-employed
Non-employed
March 1965 Issue
Date: 29 Mar 1965 – 5 Dec 1965
Printer: HM Stationery Office
Process: Photogravure
Watermark: Block MNI
Employed
Self-employed
Non-employed
December 1965 Issue
Date: 6 Dec 1965 – 4 Sept 1966
Printer: HM Stationery Office
Process: Photogravure
Watermark: Block MNI
Employed
(unchanged)
(unchanged)
(unchanged)
