NI number...

[walesrob]

Ok, as someone who runs a payroll for the family firm, let me clear this up once and for all...

Its a myth that its up to the employer to apply for a NI number. This is only if you have a NI number and you have LOST it, not if you require one.

Firstly, you start work, and you tell your employer you will apply for a NI number. In a meantime, tell the employer to use a nil NI number on payroll (this to conform to Inland Revenue rules). The employer cannot use a temporay number.

Next, apply for a NI number interview at local DSS. They will have a slot within 4 weeks.

At the interview at the DSS, bring your first payslips, and if issued, a contract of employment from your employer or some kind of letter confirming employment.

Within 3 to 4 weeks, a NI number will be sent to your home address.

Of course, the above info only applies if you have a visa allowing you to work in UK!

The current threshold for NI is around £88, so in theory you can earn under that amount and never pay NI, but still it is a requirement that all employees must have a NI number.

[Pauldo]

My wife had to apply for a NI so she could claim child benefit for the little 'un.
As usual with government type organisations, it turned into a nine month long fiasco, that was only resolved when I called the benefits agency and said "Right, can you give me the name and contact number of the person to contact so I can make an official complaint to the Ombudsman about your department?"
Three weeks later we had a cheque for seven months back child benefit, at £16.50 a week. This was all sorted before she had done her first year in the UK and was still not granted permanent residence.

Same fiasco with the tax credit clowns recently, who owed us money: No real result until I asked how and where I make an official complaint: Cheque for £280 arrived in the post a week later. Not a big deal really, as we are hardly on the breadline, but I dread to think what happens to families who are not so fortunate and actually need that last few quid a week.

[ginapeterb]

Originally posted by walesrob@May 9 2005, 05:25 PM
Ok, as someone who runs a payroll for the family firm, let me clear this up once and for all...

Its a myth that its up to the employer to apply for a NI number. This is only if you have a NI number and you have LOST it, not if you require one.

Firstly, you start work, and you tell your employer you will apply for a NI number. In a meantime, tell the employer to use a nil NI number on payroll (this to conform to Inland Revenue rules). The employer cannot use a temporay number.

Next, apply for a NI number interview at local DSS. They will have a slot within 4 weeks.

At the interview at the DSS, bring your first payslips, and if issued, a contract of employment from your employer or some kind of letter confirming employment.

Within 3 to 4 weeks, a NI number will be sent to your home address.

Of course, the above info only applies if you have a visa allowing you to work in UK!

The current threshold for NI is around £88, so in theory you can earn under that amount and never pay NI, but still it is a requirement that all employees must have a NI number.

Quoted post

thanks for the excellent advices there Rob, this is a very important peice of advice, as many think the employer will obtain the NI, geeeeze does it take that long to get an NI number...what about express fee option ? hehehe