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Obtaining a National Insurance Number

If you work in the UK you will need to obtain a National Insurance (NI) number. National Insurance will be deducted from your pay by your employer. It is a form of taxation used by the government to pays for pensions, state benefits (sickness pay, disability allowance, unemployment benefit, etc.) and is used to fund the UK 's free National Health Service (NHS), which is one of the best in Europe.

NI numbers are issued by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). You will need to call them, give them your postcode and work details and they will let you know the location of your local office. You will then need to call your local office (sometimes this will be at your local job centre) and make an appointment to receive your NI number. When you go for your interview you will generally need to take your passport, a letter from your employer or letters showing you are registered with employment agencies looking for work, and two or three other forms of ID. Generally, it takes six to eight weeks after your interview for your NI number to be sent to your UK address in the post.

Useful Contacts

www.dwp.gov.uk/ Department for work and pensions

www.jobcentreplus.gov.uk Job centres