NIM01017 - Class 1 Structural Overview: Types of National Insurance contributions: Contracted-out rate NICs

Employees whose employers operate occupational pension schemes and choose to join them, are normally contracted-out of the State Earnings Related Pension Scheme (SERPS) and from 6 4 2002, the State Second Pension and pay contracted-out (rebated) rate NICs. Employees over state pension age (see NIM36000) cannot be in contracted-out employment.

See NIM01021 for further information on types of contracted-out schemes. For further information about the fiscal structure of contracted-out rate NICs, see NIM01018. For further information about married women’s’ and widows’ reduced rate NICs, see NIM30000 and NIM31000, respectively.

For information on the structure of primary Class 1 NICs from 6 April 2003, see NIM01100 onwards.