National Insurance Number

Flora_Poste

Hi- Looking for advice for my son. Hes in sixth form looking for a Saturday job.


Morrisons have asked him in for an interview on Wednesday but have asked him to bring proof of his national insurance number. we've searched everywhere but cant find the original paperwork. He's got the number no problem but keeps it on his phone and on his CV on the computer. We've been onto HMRC this afternoon to get a replacement but it wont arrive before Wednesday.


Hes never had a job or a flat or a driving licence or anything it would appear on. I thought it was just a case of giving it in and they could check it. Is there anything else he could do? Its the only big employer in the area and the best chance of a decent Saturday job.

tanya2014

They only need the number
They don't need a card or a piece of paper so don't worry!
I know this as I did not have to have an actual slip of paper or card for my new job. So long as he knows it and it is correct he will be fine

engineer_amy

As said before, he doesnt need to provide proof. Just give the number along with the rest of his personal details and bank details. The employer will be using real time reporting and shortly after his first payday they will receive notification from HMRC if the NI number is incorrect.

Providing proof only cuts out this step, but they cannot insist on it.

Flora_Poste

Thanks for the replies folks.


He said she was adamant he needed written proof. He offered his passport or bank statements but she said one of those PLUS the written proof of the NI was required. If he gave her the wrong number then she said she (presumably the company) could be fined £10,000. It seems to be coming on a bit strong for a 16 yr old just getting started. Its only Morrisons for heavens sake on a Saturday not MI6 behind enemy lines. Im going to get him to ring tomorrow and explain its in the post and see how that goes.


Otherwise I think I'll be writing to Mr Morrison......

whitewing

I wouldn't put a national insurance number on my CV.

McKneff

Saturday job or not, they are protecting themselves, they are also protecting your son and thousands and thousand of other employees.


If they didn't check like this I wonder how many illegal immigrants they would be employing, not realising, and then being fined £10.000 for each one.


Let it also be a learning curve for your son. Keep everything, wage slips, P45s, p60s in a file for future reference and then there wont be this panic when someone wants some reference.


Hope he get the job x

engineer_amy

The company can only be fined for not checking eligibility to work. A national insurance number does not prove that he is not an illegal worker. Showing his passport (if it is a uk passport) will prove he is eligible to work. And as previoudly mentioned the ni number will be checked via HMRC real time information.

They may request proof of address, which he could use his bank statements but blank out balances and transactions, they dont need to see that.

Get your son to ring and explain, it may help. But unfortunately some people may not be easily convinced once they have it in their heads that they are right

Elfbert

Passport would prove he's allowed to work (providing it's a British/EU passport, or has a visa with indefinite leave to remain/right to work.)

National Insurance number is by no means the only way they can check if you're allowed to work!

Morrisons sounds like they've got the wrong end of the stick.

Flora_Poste

Thanks again. Very interesting replies.


I understand they need to check him out but he does have the NI number and a UK passport and bank statements with his address on. But not much else at 16. Theres nothing else he could have kept other than that one letter which we cant find. Surely they have time to load him on their system and see if theres any issues before he gets paid. Its going to be a month or so before he would see any money anyway even if he did get the job. Plenty of time for them to query it.


As it stands at the moment, he wont get the job because he cant attend the interview without written proof of his NI number.

General_Grant

Flora_Poste wrote: »

Thanks again. Very interesting replies.


I understand they need to check him out but he does have the NI number and a UK passport and bank statements with his address on. But not much else at 16. Theres nothing else he could have kept other than that one letter which we cant find. Surely they have time to load him on their system and see if theres any issues before he gets paid. Its going to be a month or so before he would see any money anyway even if he did get the job. Plenty of time for them to query it.


As it stands at the moment, he wont get the job because he cant attend the interview without written proof of his NI number.

He should just attend the interview.

If he wants he could print out information from https://www.gov.uk/national-insurance/your-national-insurance-number which simply says you need to give your NINo to your employer. It does not say you have to prove what your NINo is.

RichardD1970

Although not a legal requirement, AFAIK, a company can insist on anything it likes to make a potential employee eligible for interview (baring the usual protected characteristics stuff).

It may be unfair but is it illegal?