NIM30025 | Special Cases: Married Women: Background: Position up to 5 April 1975: Maintenance of elections

Although the actual application form on which the election was made was destroyed after 6 years, the notation remained on the RF1. Each year the exempt rate cards were submitted to Records Branch where they were sorted and checked by the clerks. If Class 1 contributions were attached to an exempt rate card, an investigation was immediately made and any corrective action taken.

As the exempt rate contributions were of no intrinsic value, an administrative decision was taken to cease recording them on the permanent record in 1957 but the other procedures remained in place. However if the married woman was contracted-out of the graduated pension scheme, which came into existence on 6 April 1961, any exempt rate contributions paid were recorded.

Regular thorough audit checks were made of the card posting procedures in Records Branch. Any errors identified were brought to the attention of the senior officer in charge of the sub- section. The clerk responsible for that area of work was required to take corrective action. Records were kept of audit error rates, which provided an incentive between sub-sections to maintain high standards of record keeping.