NIM30020 | Special Cases: Married Women: Background: Position up to 6 April 1975: Time for making an election

Regulations 2, 3 and 4 of The National Insurance (Married Women) Regulations 1973

An employed married woman could make an election at any time following her marriage and, in law, it took effect from the Monday of the week next but one following the week in which the election was made. However the legislation provided for Ministerial discretion and, in practice, an election was often treated as having been made on a date which was acceptable to the married woman.

A self-employed or a non-employed married woman had 13 weeks from her date of marriage or commencement of self-employment / non-employment to make an election to pay contributions. Applications made outside the time limits normally took effect from the week of election. However the legislation provided for Ministerial discretion which allowed for such elections to be backdated in certain circumstances.