27th December, 1939

M.H. No. 3a
Open this envelope without tearing the flap which is only tucked in.
Use the envelope again for returning your stamped Card & Record Card by sticking the gummed label (within) over the address → and tucking in the flap.
D.C. PO 0273
MINISTRY OF HEALTH,
INSURANCE DEPARTMENT,
BROMYARD AVENUE,
LONDON, W.3.
[Red postmark]
LONDON
7 DEC
1938
PAID
ON HIS MAJESTY’S SERVICE
Mrs Teresa E. Penman1 Polperro Mans.
Lynecroft Gdns
NW 6
‘Maycot’
12, Commonside
Keston
Kent

1/40 ENG
NO. IN SOCIETY P07273
NAME Penman, Teresa E.
(Surname first)
WARNING
ANY PERSON WHO REMOVES A STAMP FROM THIS CARD OR MAKES USE OF A STAMP REMOVED FROM A CARD IS LIABLE TO PROSECUTION
Stamps must not be bought except at a Post Office
| WEEK | WEEK | WEEK | WEEK | WEEK | WEEK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
| BEGINNING 1 JAN. 1940 | BEGINNING 8 JAN. 1940 | BEGINNING 15 JAN. 1940 | BEGINNING 22 JAN. 1940 | BEGINNING 29 JAN. 1940 | BEGINNING 5 FEB. 1940 |
WEEKLY RATE OF CONTRIBUTION (see overleaf) 1/2
| WEEK | WEEK | WEEK | WEEK | WEEK | WEEK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 |
| BEGINNING 12 FEB. 1940 | BEGINNING 19 FEB. 1940 | BEGINNING 26 FEB. 1940 | BEGINNING 4 MAR. 1940 | BEGINNING 11 MAR. 1940 | BEGINNING 18 MAR. 1940 |
DO NOT STAMP CARD DURING SICKNESS OR UNEMPLOYMENT WITHOUT CONSULTING SOCIETY
A SPECIAL CARD MUST BE USED FOR A PERSON OVER 65 (see overleaf)
DO NOT STAMP CARD AFTER GIVING UP INSURABLE EMPLOYMENT—SEE * OVERLEAF
| WEEK | WEEK | WEEK | WEEK | WEEK | WEEK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 |
| BEGINNING 25 MAR. 1940 | BEGINNING 1 APRIL 1940 | BEGINNING 8 APRIL 1940 | BEGINNING 15 APRIL 1940 | BEGINNING 22 APRIL 1940 | BEGINNING 29 APRIL 1940 |
NOTICE TO EMPLOYER
EACH STAMP SHOULD BE VERY FIRMLY AFFIXED AND THE DATE OF AFFIXING IT AT ONCE WRITTEN IN INK (OR STAMPED WITH METALLIC DIE) ACROSS FACE OF STAMP
Health and Pensions Insurance Stamps only must be used
| WEEK | WEEK | WEEK | WEEK | WEEK | WEEK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 |
| BEGINNING 6 MAY 1940 | BEGINNING 13 MAY 1940 | BEGINNING 20 MAY 1940 | BEGINNING 27 MAY 1940 | BEGINNING 3 JUNE 1940 | BEGINNING 10 JUNE 1940 |
| WEEK | WEEK | SIGN HERE BE- FORE RETURN- ING THE CARD |
|---|---|---|
| 25 | 26 | |
| BEGINNING 17 JUNE 1940 | BEGINNING 24 JUNE 1940 | If you change your address write new address here and notify your Society within 7 days |
In the event of Marriage or Widowhood notify Society at once, giving date

NATIONAL HEALTH AND PENSIONS INSURANCE CONTRIBUTION CARD
| ENGLAND | EMPLOYED CONTRIBUTOR | 1940 FIRST HALF |
|---|---|---|
| CLASS E WOMAN AGE 16 to 65 | RATE OF CONTRIBUTION EMPLOYER: 7D. WORKER: 7D. But see ⑤ below } 1/2 | 26 WEEKS ENDING 30 JUNE 1940 |
INSTRUCTIONS TO INSURED PERSON
THE CARD MUST BE DELIVERED TO YOUR EMPLOYER AT THE PROPER TIMES FOR STAMPING
THE CARD MUST BE SURRENDERED TO YOUR SOCIETY, WITH YOUR RECORD CARD, IMMEDIATELY AFTER 30 JUNE 1940 AND NOT LATER THAN
13 JULY 1940
IF YOU ARE NOT A MEMBER OF A SOCIETY SEND THE CARD TO THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH, INSURANCE DEPT., BROMYARD AVENUE, LONDON, W.3
Failure to surrender card promptly may result in serious loss of benefits
IF THE CARD IS UNSTAMPED OR ONLY PARTLY STAMPED YOU SHOULD STATE THE REASON
If you are genuinely unemployed you should in your own interests register for work at a local office of the Ministry of Labour and present this card for franking each week
For an employed person aged 65 or over a special card must be used and only the employer’s contribution (7d.) is payable
The card is issued to the employee by the Ministry of Health or may be obtained at a Post Office
★ A person wishing to become a Voluntary Contributor on ceasing insurable employment should not stamp this card but should notify her Society without delay
INSTRUCTIONS TO EMPLOYER
A 1s. 2D. CONTRIBUTION IS PAYABLE FOR EACH WEEK (BEGINNING MONDAY) DURING THE WHOLE OR ANY PART OF WHICH THE INSURED PERSON IS EMPLOYED
THE CARD MUST BE STAMPED NOT LATER THAN THE TIME AT WHICH WAGES ARE PAID
Health and Pensions Insurance Stamps only to be used
Each stamp must be cancelled in accordance with the notice overleaf
The card must be returned to the insured person, duly stamped—
(a) WHEN EMPLOYMENT ENDS, OR WITHIN 14 DAYS IF SHE LEAVES WITHOUT NOTICE;
(b) WITHIN 48 HOURS AFTER REQUEST BY THE WORKER AT ANY TIME
At the end of its currency the card must be returned to the worker not later than
6 JULY 1940
IF THE EMPLOYER FAILS TO PAY THE CONTRIBUTION OR TO DEDUCT THE WORKER’S SHARE OF IT AT THE PROPER TIME HE LOSES HIS RIGHT TO DEDUCT ANY PART OF THE CONTRIBUTION
⑤ If an employee aged 18 or over is paid at the rate of 4/- or less for a full day, and does not receive board and lodging, the weekly amounts to be paid are:—
| Rate of Wages | EMPLOYER | WORKER |
|---|---|---|
| Over 3/- a day | 8D. | 6D. |
| 3/- or less a day | 11D. | 3D. |
If the worker is 16 or 17 her share of the 1/2 contribution is 7d.
A PERSON FINDING A LOST CARD SHOULD DROP IT INTO A POST OFFICE LETTER BOX
(25717) Wt.48487/3942 4,660m(12 kds.) 8/39 L.M.R. T.4065

ON HIS MAJESTY’S SERVICE.
The Controller,
Ministry of Health,
Insurance Department,
Bromyard Avenue,
Acton,
London, W.3.
[Circle placeholder for stamp in top right corner]
(2594) Wt. 29567/20 350M 10/39 S.E.R. Ltd. Gp. 662.

IMPORTANT.
Leaflet 27B.
NATIONAL HEALTH AND PENSIONS INSURANCE.
Information for Deposit Contributors.
- Maintenance of Insurance while Unemployed. A deposit contributor who becomes unemployed remains insured for a period of approximately 21 months reckoned from his last employment. In certain circumstances this period may be extended if the contributor proves that his unemployment has been due to genuine inability to obtain work or to illness. A deposit contributor who is unemployed should have his contribution card franked at an Employment Exchange whether or not he is entitled to unemployment benefit and forward the franked card to the Department promptly at the end of each half-year. If he is ill he should notify his illness without delay even though he may not be entitled to National Health Insurance benefits. Failure to give prompt notice of sickness or to furnish early evidence of unemployment may seriously affect a deposit contributor’s position for both Health and Pensions Insurance.
- Voluntary Insurance. A deposit contributor who has been insurably employed for at least 104 weeks, may on ceasing to be employed, or on becoming only intermittently employed, continue in insurance by paying contributions as a voluntary contributor. A person electing to become a voluntary contributor in this way will be able to insure for either health benefits or pensions, or for both, except that a married woman cannot become a voluntary contributor for the purposes of health insurance. Application to become a voluntary contributor (for either or both forms of insurance) may be made to the Department at any time before insurance is due to terminate, but it is desirable to make the application as soon as possible after insurable employment ceases. Deposit contributors, including married women, who reached the age of 60 (55 in the case of women) before the 3rd January, 1938, and had, on attaining that age, been continuously insured for 10 years, are entitled to pay contributions as voluntary contributors on specially favourable terms. Further particulars can be obtained on application to the Department.
- Right to pay Contributions for weeks of Sickness or Unemployment. Subject to certain conditions a deposit contributor may himself pay contributions in respect of weeks during which he is incapable of work, or available for but unable to obtain work, even though he does not become a voluntary contributor. This right is of value to contributors who have paid less than 104 contributions (see para. 4 overleaf) and to those who, having no balance remaining in their Health Insurance accounts, wish to maintain their title to medical benefit. Before paying contributions for weeks of sickness or unemployment the contributor should apply to the Department at the address overleaf for the necessary instructions.
- Insurance Conditions for Contributory Pensions. The following are the chief conditions:— (1) Widows’ and Orphans’ Pensions.
(a) At least 104 weeks’ (two years’) insurance, continuing up to the death of the insured husband (or parent).*
[See over.]

2
(b) Payment of at least 104 contributions† during the insurance.
(c) An average of at least 26 contributions (towards which weeks of notified illness and unemployment will be counted) in each of the last three complete contribution years before death.‡
[NOTE.—In certain circumstances the “average” condition (that is 1 above) may not be required—see Leaflet W.P. 6.B. obtainable at any Post Office.]
(2) Old Age Pensions at 65 years of age.
(a) At least five years’ insurance continuing up to the date when pension age is reached.*
(b) Payment of at least 104 contributions† during the insurance.
(c) An average of at least 39 contributions (towards which weeks of notified illness and unemployment will be counted) in each of the last three complete contribution years before pension age was reached.‡
[NOTE.—In certain circumstances the “average” condition (that is, 2 above) may not be required, or may be modified—see Leaflet O.A.P., 107.B., obtainable at any Post Office.]
* Where insurance has ceased within 12 months before death, or attainment of age 65, a pension may be payable provided certain conditions have been fulfilled.
† Franks impressed on contribution cards at Employment Exchanges do not count as contributions for this purpose.
‡ This condition does not apply in the case of a voluntary contributor insured separately for pensions. In such cases, pensions at the full rate depend on at least 50 contributions a year, on average, having been paid, or deemed to have been paid, throughout the insurance. If the average is less, pension will be reduced.
The full advantages of National Health Insurance can be obtained only through membership of an Approved Society.
Special Notice to Persons who have entered Insurance since 1st January, 1938.
Deposit contributors who have entered, or re-entered, insurance since the 1st January, 1938, and are unable to obtain admission to an Approved Society by reason of ill-health are reminded of the importance of applying to become members of the special Insurance Section of the Deposit Contributors Fund, which provides the ordinary benefits of National Health Insurance on the same basis as an Approved Society. Application for admission to the Insurance Section is required to be made within two years of the date of entry or re-entry into insurance. This date is shown on the Deposit Contributor’s Record card.
Full information as to the Insurance Section is contained in Leaflet 27A, which has already been supplied, but a further copy of that leaflet can, if required, be obtained on application to the Department.
Ministry of Health,
Insurance Department,
Bromyard Avenue,
Acton, London, W.3.
Wt. 32303—48537 235m 10/39 G.F.T. N6535.
Wednesday 27th December, 1939
This insurance card is of historical interest given that immediately following the war the UK established the NHS. This was driven in by a desire to improve on the private system, a justified sense of entitlement from returning soldiers, and the fact that the removal of fees at point of service necessary during the war was considered a vast improvement by Dr’s and medical professionals.
It’s strange to think that at the point this was sent Terry and Kenneth’s medical care was dependent on this bureaucracy and payment.