I DON'T know whether readers are aware of some National Insurance rules that I have been made aware of that the National Insurance that some call married women's stamp which is paid at a reduced rate, does not contribute to a full state pension.

You have had to pay a full stamp to a minimum of 30 years. The reduced stamp which a number of married women pay counts for nothing towards a full state pension as I understand it.

The reduced National Insurance stamp is paid by the individual and not topped up by the employer. Therefore anyone paying the reduced contribution should think carefully about paying the full National Insurance contribution if at the end of their working life they wanted a full state pension.

I know some people who wished they had kept up the full contributions because they are now struggling because of the reduced NI contributions.

So to all those in this position I urge them to check their pension details as they may regret not doing so in the future.

Mrs Pat Moore,

Melbourne Road,

Bolton.