National Insurance Number

Every UK citizen should be sent a National Insurance card with their unique National Insurance number just before their sixteenth birthday. This National Insurance number is important for the state to monitor which benefits you are receiving, if any, and what National Insurance contributions you have made, if any. If you forget your National Insurance number you can contact the National Insurance helpline on 0845 915 7006; they should be able to tell you your number when you have answered some basic questions, such as your address and full name.

If you need a National Insurance number but do not have one, you must contact National Employment services via telephone on 0845 600 0643. You will need to arrange a suitable time for an interview, where you will be asked to prove your identity using documents such as your birth certificate and driver’s licence. You will also need to prove that you are entitled to work in the UK. If you are not entitled to work in the UK you will not be granted a National Insurance number. Once the National Employment services are sure of your identity, they will issue you with a National Insurance number. If you have difficulty claiming your number, or are uncertain of the procedure, you can contact your local Citizens Advice Bureau for guidance.

If you lose your National Insurance card, you must inform the benefits office or Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC). You are allowed only one replacement card, but if this is lost or stolen again you must still inform the authorities; it is important to prevent any other person using your National Insurance number. Keep the authorities informed of any alterations to your status and identity, such as change of name, marital status and address. If the authorities have your current details they will be able to contact you about claiming your State Pension when you are approaching retirement.