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You must, by law, have a National Insurance Number to work in the UK, even if the work you do is unpaid.  Your National Insurance number is the reference number under which the Contributions Agency and HM Revenue and Customs file the information they hold on you. The file will contain information about what you have paid and any benefit entitlement you may have built up. The number is made up of two letters, six numbers and another letter (e.g. AB 12 56 15 B).

An employer will ask you for your National Insurance number when you start work. They use the number to notify the Inland Revenue and the Contributions Agency of deductions they have made from your salary. Employers who have computerised payroll facilities cannot enter you onto their system without a number.

Please note, you do not need a National Insurance Number when you apply for work. If an employer queries this, then please show them the last page of the Find Your Way to Work booklet which is available online.

If you change any of your names, your title or your address you should tell your local office so they can keep your file up to date. Failure to do this can lead to a delay if you wish to claim benefits.

Further information is available from HM Revenue and Customs.

Once you have a job you must apply for a National Insurance Number.  This is the responsibility of the individual and not of the employer. You can also apply for an National Insurance Number if you can show proof that you are looking for a job. The proof would be several documents e.g. rejection letters, invitations to interviews, confirmations of received applications etc.

You should call the Jobcentre National Insurance Number Allocation Service on 0845 6000 643. Lines are open Monday to Friday 8am to 6pm.

You will be advised to either complete and return the Fastpath Application Form or attend an interview at a Jobcentre Plus office. The closest office to both Colchester and Southend campuses is Crown Building, Beeches Road, Chelmsford CM1 2RT.

You are assessed for National Insurance on a weekly or monthly basis (depending on how often you get paid) and not on a yearly basis (like income tax).

For further details on rates and allowances please visit Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs website.

Contributions are made up of two parts:

• Primary contributions, which are deducted from your salary by your employer; and
• Secondary contributions which the employer pays from its own funds.

Your employer will pay both parts directly to the Contributions Agency. Your pay slip should show what deductions your employer has made. Further details can be obtained from the Contributions Agency web pages

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