Applying for a NINO

(National Insurance number)

If you are resident in the UK you should have received a National Insurance number just before your 16th birthday. However if you do not have one because you have just come to the UK, you will need to apply for one if you want to work.

You will need to start your application by telephoning the Job Centre Plus Contact Centre, to book an appointment for an interview at the Jobcentre in Worcester.The contact centre will give you a time and date to come to us for the interview. You must make the appointment first, you can’t just turn up.

The telephone number of the contact centre is 0345 6000 643.

The Job Centre office is at Vine House, Farrier Street, Worcester, WR1 3EL.

You will be sent a letter to confirm the appointment. On the second page of the letter, they will tell you what papers you need to bring with you.

Generally, they will need to see:

  1. Your passport, if you have one.
  1. Your ID card, if you have one.
  1. Your Birth Certificate.
  1. Letter or papers from the Home Office confirming your right to live in the UK, if applicable.
  1. A letter with your name and address on, such as a telephone bill, rental agreement, or a letter from your bank, with proof of where you live.
  1. If you are already working, they need to see at least one payslip, and your contract of employment. If you do not have a contract, it would be helpful to have a letter from your employer confirming the date you started.
  1. If you are looking for work, please keep copies of job applications, and take them with you.

When you arrive at the Jobcentre for your appointment:

  1. Please be on time (or better still, 5 minutes early). If you are late, they will probably have to cancel the appointment, and you will need to phone the Contact Centre to book another appointment. They cannot book appointments from the Jobcentre – they must be done by ringing the Contact Centre.
  1. Please report to the Welcome Desk at the Jobcentre, and show the Welcome member of staff your appointment letter. They will then direct you to the correct room and floor. It is very important that you take your appointment letter with you.

You might be asked about the following:

  • Dates – if any - that you have been to the UK before, but only if you stayed here for over 30 days. They will need to know the dates you arrived here and the dates you left.
  • Any other addresses you have lived at, in the last 2 years, in the UK – with dates of moving in and out
  • They will also need details of your accommodation where you live now. If you are not living on the university campus, please provide them with the name and, if possible, address of your landlord, landlady or letting agency.
  • If you are married, divorced or widowed, they will need details of dates, with full name and date of birth of your wife or husband.
  • If you are already working, or have had a job in the last 2 years, they will need the names and addresses of all employers, dates you started and ended the jobs, phone number of the employers, how many hours you work or worked each week, and your job titles.
  • They will also need to know if you have claimed any benefits in the UK, or if anyone has claimed any benefits for you.
  • Please also tell them the date you started your course here, and roughly how many hours each week you study. They will also need details of any other courses you have been on, in the UK, in the last 2 years.

The whole interview takes up to 25 minutes. When the form has been completed, they will photocopy your papers, and then both you and the interviewing officer will sign the photocopies – you sign and date the application form, and it is all over!

It takes between 4 to 6 weeks to receive your National Insurance number after the interview, in a letter.

National Minimum/Living Wage

From April 2017 workers are entitled to a National Minimum / National Living Wage of:

Age Group / Wage
25 and over / £7.50
21 and over / £7.05
18-20 / £5.60
16-17 / £4.05

For more information please see the leaflet ‘National Minimum Wage/National Living Wage’ available from firstpoint

Useful telephone numbers:

Contact centre – to book or rearrange

a National Insurance number appointment:0345 6000 643

National Insurance Number Office –

if you want to report a change of

circumstances, eg. change of address:0300 200 3500

National Minimum Wage Helpline:0800 917 2368

Date updated:August 2017(information correct at time of going to print)