National Insurance Number

What is a National Insurance Number?

Only one number is allocated to you and you keep that same number all your life. It is unique to you and ensures we correctly credit and record National Insurance contributions (NICs) you are entitled to or have paid to your National Insurance account. You will need these NICs and credits when you come to claim benefit, whether it is for a short while, like Incapacity Benefit or long term, such as basic State Pension.

• Your National Insurance Number is personal to you.
• It is your account number allocated to you for you to use in all your dealings with Inland Revenue (IR), the Social Security Agency in Northern Ireland or the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP)

It is not proof of your identity.
It looks something like this: AB123456C
This National Insurance number is only an example and should not be used as your own number.

When do I apply for a NI number ?

No one has a right to a National Insurance number but there are circumstances when you are legally obliged to apply for one and to register for National Insurance purposes.
Conditions for applying for a National Insurance number

• If you do not already have a National Insurance number you must apply for one as soon as you start work 
• You must be 16 or over and resident in the UK.

If you satisfy all the above conditions except for being resident in the UK, and you still want to apply for a National Insurance number, you must be liable to pay NICs or want to pay voluntary NICs and would benefit from doing so. You will need to contact the Centre for Non-Residents.
Providing you satisfy these conditions, you should contact your nearest DWP office or Social Security office in Northern Ireland and ask for an appointment to be interviewed for a National Insurance number.
At the interview you will need to be able to prove your identity.
You can find out information about the types of documents you should provide to help establish your identity in leaflet GL25 available from any DWP office or Social Security office in Northern Ireland.