Your National Insurance Number

Contents

What do I do with my National Insurance Number?

You should quote it on letters or forms you send to HM Revenue and Customs, Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) or the Social Security Agency in Northern Ireland.

Keep your number safe and do not disclose it to anyone who does not need it. Remember, its purpose is only to record National Insurance contributions and credits you have paid or are entitled to, which will help decide how much benefit you will receive.

If you are employed

  • you should tell your employer your number as soon as you know it
  • your employer will use it to advise HMRC what National Insurance Contributions they have deducted and paid over so that HMRC can record these on your National Insurance account.

These earn you entitlement to benefit. If your employer does not have the correct National Insurance number then there could be a delay in establishing how much benefit you should get when you claim.

If you are self-employed

  • you will need your National Insurance number when you apply to pay self-employed National Insurance contributions.

What is the National Insurance number card?

The National Insurance number card is a plastic card, which is issued, automatically when you first apply for a National Insurance number.

It is meant to be a reminder of your number and nothing else. It does not provide proof of your identity and should not be used as such.

If you live abroad a card will not be sent to you. If you live in the UK but have a temporary or unsafe address you will be able to collect your card from your nearest DWP office, or Social Security office in Northern Ireland about 8 weeks after your application is made.

If you live in Wales, you may ask for your card to be printed in both English and Welsh. Tell the office where you apply for your National Insurance number that you would like a bilingual card.

Take good care of your card. You will only be sent one replacement if you lose it.

What do I do if I have lost my National Insurance number card?

Report it to your nearest DWP office, Social Security office in Northern Ireland or HM Revenue & Customs office. If you want a replacement card you will need to complete an application form. Remember that you are only allowed one replacement.

Do you need to know if my circumstances change?

Yes. Please write to your nearest DWP office, Social Security office in Northern Ireland or HM Revenue & Customs office quoting your National Insurance number. Tell us what change has occurred and when it happened. For example:

  • If you are a woman you should tell us if you get married or become divorced or widowed.
  • If you move house, you need to tell us when you move and where you moved to. If you do not tell us when you move, we will not be able to keep your records up to date. This means that we will be unable to contact you if we need to; for example, if the National Insurance contributions you paid in a tax year are not enough for that year to count for benefit purposes. We would normally write to let you know and to tell you how much you could pay in voluntary National Insurance contributions to make that year count.
  • when you are nearing State Pension age, we invite you to claim any basic State Pension you are entitled to. We cannot do this if we do not have your current address.