National Insurance - 3rd Jun 2008 3:34pm
I'd always thought that the National Insurance scheme started after the end of the war, with the Beveridge Report. It turns out I was wrong. I've recently bought on e-bay some wartime stuff, including some National Health & Pensions Insurance cards. The earliest reference I can find to this scheme is 1927 & it seems it was compulsory if you earned less than £250 p.a. If you earned more, you could make voluntary contributions.
The attached scans give an insight into the wartime life of
Mr. Hugh T. Swinstead. As I read it, he became a "man" (I'm guessing that was age 16 years)on 2/1/1939. He then worked & paid contributions until week 26 of 1940, when he went into the forces. He was de-mobbed in week 35 of 1946 & went back to work. Glad to see he survived the war.
Sorry this isn't local history, but the local history would have been the same.
The attached scans give an insight into the wartime life of
Mr. Hugh T. Swinstead. As I read it, he became a "man" (I'm guessing that was age 16 years)on 2/1/1939. He then worked & paid contributions until week 26 of 1940, when he went into the forces. He was de-mobbed in week 35 of 1946 & went back to work. Glad to see he survived the war.
Sorry this isn't local history, but the local history would have been the same.
- just a bit weird how it was compulsary for people who were the lowest earners.
