Getting a National Insurance Number under 16

Hi,
DS1 is looking for a Christmas job, and some of the shops have told him/me that they will employ 15yr olds so long as they have a National Insurance number. Is there any way we can speed up the process or is it just a matter of wait,:confused: and it'll show up just before his 16th?

S13
«1

Comments

  • honeypop
    honeypop Posts: 1,501
    Name Dropper Combo Breaker First Post First Anniversary
    Forumite
    He will automatically receive it just before his 16th birthday. Unfortunately you can't speed up the process.
  • fengirl_2
    fengirl_2 Posts: 4,530 Forumite
    A National Insurance number would be no good to him aged under 16 as he is not liable to NIC at that age. The employer is putting unreasonable barriers up.
    £705,000 raised by client groups in the past 18 mths :beer:
  • Savvy_Sue
    Savvy_Sue Posts: 45,938
    Name Dropper First Post First Anniversary
    Forumite
    I'm not so sure ... if you DON'T have a NI no. then an employer has to get one for you, so maybe they are asking for one before you start to avoid that hassle. Not disputing that you're NOT liable to pay NICs before you're 16, however!
    Signature removed for peace of mind
  • fengirl_2
    fengirl_2 Posts: 4,530 Forumite
    I dispute the fact that the employer has to have an NINO. All they need to do is to have proof that you are allowed to work in the UK and there are other ways of proving this.
    £705,000 raised by client groups in the past 18 mths :beer:
  • CIS
    CIS Posts: 12,260
    Name Dropper First Post First Anniversary
    Forumite
    You become liable for NI from the 6th April prior to your 16th birthday
    I no longer work in Council Tax Recovery but instead work as a specialist Council Tax paralegal assisting landlords and Council Tax payers with council tax disputes and valuation tribunals. My views are my own reading of the law and you should always check with the local authority in question.
  • Savvy_Sue
    Savvy_Sue Posts: 45,938
    Name Dropper First Post First Anniversary
    Forumite
    Well, I can't in a quick trawl of the HMRC site find a link which says what an employer should do if an employee has no NINO, BUT I did find this which says

    "Before you do any work - employed or self-employed - you must have a National Insurance number."

    And it goes on to explain how to obtain one: I would have thought it was worth the OP (or her son) phoning to ask if he could get one sooner, and whether an employer HAD to ask for one. It's aimed at students, which sounds relevant to me.


    Because another thing to make clear is that a NINO does NOT confirm that you have the right to work in the UK! So why an employer would insist on that and not ALSO insist on proof that you are allowed to work in the UK is a mystery to me!


    And I'm only saying that sometimes employers like things simple: they know what to do with a P45, and not what to do with a P46. They don't know what to do if the employee doesn't have a NINO, so they try to avoid that situation. Whether that's an 'unreasonable' barrier is not for me to say! Maybe employers don't really want 15 year olds!
    Signature removed for peace of mind
  • stazi
    stazi Posts: 1,295 Forumite
    As no state benefit claim is involved, JCP are not responsible for tracing/issuing a NINO in this case.
    Responsibility rests with HMRC and the contact details are here-
    http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/helplines/ni-registrations.htm
    Liability to pay NIC only starts on the 16th birthday and not before, and at present ends at age 60(women)/65 (men).
  • As said above, all children have a NINO. I know this from when I worked in DLA. The employer has no need to ask for the NINO as 15 years olds do not pay contributions.
  • sundin13
    sundin13 Posts: 481 Forumite
    Thanks for all your help everyone.....I'll take him along to the JCP over the half term to see what they say.

    S13
  • Hi
    My 14 year old sister has been working weekends at a shoe store, she doesnt have a NI number. :confused: .. Pop into your local CAB and ask them?
    "Do not look back and grieve over the past, for it is gone, and do not be troubled about the future, for it has yet to come. Live in the present, and make it so beautiful that it will be worth remembering"
This discussion has been closed.
Meet your Ambassadors

Categories

  • All Categories
  • 342.5K Banking & Borrowing
  • 249.9K Reduce Debt & Boost Income
  • 449.4K Spending & Discounts
  • 234.6K Work, Benefits & Business
  • 607.1K Mortgages, Homes & Bills
  • 172.8K Life & Family
  • 247.4K Travel & Transport
  • 1.5M Hobbies & Leisure
  • 15.8K Discuss & Feedback
  • 15.1K Coronavirus Support Boards