One of the first things newcomers need to do when arriving in the UK will be to get a National Insurance Number.

What is a National Insurance Number and what is it for?

Only one number is allocated to an individual. The National Insurance Number Inland Revenue ensures that they correctly record National Insurance contributions or credits to your National Insurance account. Everybody will need these contributions and credits when they claim benefits, whether it is short-term, e.g. Incapacity Benefit or long-term, e.g. Retirement Pension.

• The National Insurance (National Insurance) Number is personal to everybody.
• It is the account number allocated to everybody for his/her to use in all his/her dealings with HMRC and the Department for Work and Pensions

If you are employed:

• Notify your employer of your NI number as soon as possible.
• Our employer will use your NI to make sure the contributions you pay are recorded on your National Insurance account. These contributions enable you to claim benefits. If your employer does not have the correct National Insurance number, it could result in a delay in establishing how much benefits you are entitled to claim.

If you are self-employed:

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