What does "Selling my stamps" mean?

[Black Sheep]

Has anyone heard the expression "I sold my stamps for £10". I have come across the expression a few times mainly from older people mostly women who gave up work on marriage. Just wondered if anyone else knows anything about it or who they would have sold them to, and why?

Some seemed to think they were sold to either SW or the Community Welfare Officer.

 

[Thirsty]

I'm hazarding a guess here, but when the marriage bar was in place women employees were entitled to a marriage gratuity and I think they were then no longer entitled to claim any social security benefits based on 'stamps' paid.

I wonder would that be what is meant?

edit: was just chatting to my Dad about this & he says (for the Civil Service at any rate) payment of the marriage gratuity was in recompense for women being removed from the pension scheme. When the marriage bar was lifted, some people returned their gratuity on resuming work & 'bought' back their pension rights.

don't know if that's any help!

 

[Black Sheep]

The marriage gratuity was the accumulation of the "Civil Service" pension contributions paid.

My question was about State Pension (Old Age) pension contributions/stamps paid and then sold. Still a mystery!!