National Insurance and making your way into the system
National Insurance (NI) is a system of taxes used to fund public benefits. Anyone that earns over £157 per week will need to contribute and the correct contribution is calculated by your employer. You will see NI as a deduction on your payslip as well as PAYE.
Your NI number is similar to the ID number we know so well or the US Social Security number, you need it for everything so registering for one is one of your first tasks on arrival.
Anyone can work while waiting for an NI, provided you can prove that you have the right to work and live in the UK. This is quite simple if you are on a visa, your Biometric Residence Permit is sufficient proof as it will clearly state whether you have the right to work.
To start, if you are on a Tier 2 visa, you may already have an NI number as your employer will apply for one for you. To check this, look on the back of your Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) and you will see if an NI number has been issued. If it has, no further action need be taken.
If you have a British passport, you would normally have received an NI number at age 16, so you are required to make an appointment with your local job centre to register accordingly.
If you are on any other visa which gives you the right to work and live in the UK, you make a phone call to the call centre and request forms to be sent to you. These will arrive with a pre-printed envelope for the return of the forms, which you send back when completed. Registration for an NI number takes up to 3 weeks.
Remember, you are still permitted to work even while you wait! Provide your employer with the relevant proof and assure them that you have applied.
Your NI number is similar to the ID number we know so well or the US Social Security number, you need it for everything so registering for one is one of your first tasks on arrival.
Anyone can work while waiting for an NI, provided you can prove that you have the right to work and live in the UK. This is quite simple if you are on a visa, your Biometric Residence Permit is sufficient proof as it will clearly state whether you have the right to work.
To start, if you are on a Tier 2 visa, you may already have an NI number as your employer will apply for one for you. To check this, look on the back of your Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) and you will see if an NI number has been issued. If it has, no further action need be taken.
If you have a British passport, you would normally have received an NI number at age 16, so you are required to make an appointment with your local job centre to register accordingly.
If you are on any other visa which gives you the right to work and live in the UK, you make a phone call to the call centre and request forms to be sent to you. These will arrive with a pre-printed envelope for the return of the forms, which you send back when completed. Registration for an NI number takes up to 3 weeks.
Remember, you are still permitted to work even while you wait! Provide your employer with the relevant proof and assure them that you have applied.
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