Many young people can remember the moment when their national insurance card dropped through the letterbox. The sense of excitement at impending adulthood was hard to beat, and many people saw the arrival of the card as confirmation that they were now old enough to get a proper job.
In the name of progress, cards have now been replaced with a letter, which if anything exacerbates the problems we are going to discuss even further. The problem, of course, is how do find your national insurance number if you have lost that precious card or piece of paper, and are not currently employed.
For those with a job your NI number can normally be found on your wage slip. Our recommendation, should you be able to find it is to write it down somewhere, and then place it in a secure location so that you never find yourself without this vital piece of information.
If you are unable to locate it, then there are a number of options available to you. The choices you make will largely depend on how much hassle and effort you want to put yourself through.
If you were not born in the United Kingdom, then you need to get a National Insurance number before you can be legally employed. This process is obviously slightly more complex than just replacing your previous number, and for the vast majority of people, the easiest option is outlined below.
A Done For You Service
For many people, the idea of a done for you service is very appealing. The application process for any government form is often complicated, and not particularly straightforward. It only takes one little mistake, for the form to be rejected and more time wasted. That is where a company that completes the entire process for you may be the perfect solution. When you need to apply for your NI-Apply number these companies are the experts on the system. They will walk you through the entire process, and know exactly what is required to fill in the form properly. This is probably the closest service equivalent to the post offices check and send passport service.
Apply Online
If you are more confident or simply want to complete the process yourself then you can visit the government’s website and fill in the appropriate form. The application process may include an interview, so it is essential that you read all of the information available in preparation for that interview. If you are asked to attend for an interview you will need to provide some form of identification which may include a passport, identity card or driving license.
It is essential that you do not begin any work within the UK unless you can prove that you are entitled to work here. If you are entitled to work in the UK and have applied for a National Insurance number there is no need to wait for that number to arrive before starting work. Simply furnish your new employer with the information as and when it arrives.
