NATIONAL INSURANCE NUMBER
A National Insurance Number (NIN) is used to identify a person’s contribution and benefit record. The same NINO is used throughout a person’s working life. The number consists of two letters, six numbers and one letter, for example, AB 123456 C.
When you are working your employer deducts a sum from your wages or salary as a NI contribution (you can check the amount from your pay slip). Your employer adds to this contribution.
Everybody in England needs a National Insurance Number. It’s used to record the national insurance contributions you have to pay when you are working. Your benefits depend on these contributions being recorded in your NI account.
Your right to Incapacity and Contributory Job Seekers Allowance, Maternity Allowance and Retirement or Widows Pension all depend on your NI contributions. You will also need your NI number if you claim other benefits like Family Credit, Income Support or Child Benefit
When you go to the local Social Security office, take at least 2 of the following documents with you as proof of your identity: - your passport - your marriage certificate - your full driving license.
It is open at 9am and close at 5pm. We advise you to go early, as it’s frequent to spend 2-3 hours there, mainly waiting. You will have to take a ticket, register when you are called, then wait to be called a second time to complete the form. You will have to answer to questions such as “how did you pay your ticket to come”, “do you work? ” or “do you go back to your country sometimes? ” (Write a text of about 30 rows!).
As soon as you are issued with a National Insurance number (you will receive a card), give the details to your employer for their records. This will ensure that any NI contributions you pay are credited to your National Insurance account.
Leaflet IR120 “You and the Inland Revenue” gives you full details of our complaint procedures. You can get this leaflet from any Social Security office, Inland Revenue Enquiry Centre, Citizens Advice Bureau and main libraries.
