Proof to work in the UK documents

sillyvixen

We go through this nonsense every 1-2 years. I don't have a passport and end up taking my birth certificate and driving licence in for photo copying. I just don't get it I have worked there for 19 years and this has been going on for 12 years, my driving licence has been changed once as it needed a change of photo 6 month after getting married - did it all at once, why do I keep needing to provide a copy of birth certificate - that won't change!

Manxman_in_exile

Savvy_Sue wrote: »

This is that thread.

It's similar, in that it demonstrates the need to supply the documentation the employer requests ...

In that case, the employer wanted a definite link between the documents. Relying on 'someone must have seen the right documents at some point or it would not have been possible to issue THIS document' has the potential to blow up in the employer's face, just as 'this person has been working here for over 14 years and we must have checked at some point' isn't really good enough.

Purely out of curiosity, do you know what documents are considered by the Govt to be proof of RTW? I'm assuming a passport is, but a driving licence is not? What else?

Manxman_in_exile

supersaver2 wrote: »

Thank you. I clicked on that and created an account and you can print out yourself your NI number with your name on, yet it says on it it is not proof of right to work. Feels like I’m going round in circles!

I did email my line manager who is chasing paperwork, he told me to print that, bring my full birth certificate and driving license so hoping that’s enough. If it’s really not I’ll just have to get a passport.

What documentation do they actually ask for apart from a passport? (EDIT: eg you must[?] have some correspondence from HMRC showing a Ni No. Is that not sufficient?).


I don't think a driving licence is evidence of identity let alone RTW.


And anybody can get a copy of a birth certificate.


I hadn't used a passport for 25 years, but once I renewed it, I used it a lot and got my money's worth.

supersaver2

Manxman_in_exile wrote: »

What documentation do they actually ask for apart from a passport? (EDIT: eg you must[?] have some correspondence from HMRC showing a Ni No. Is that not sufficient?).


I don't think a driving licence is evidence of identity let alone RTW.


And anybody can get a copy of a birth certificate.


I hadn't used a passport for 25 years, but once I renewed it, I used it a lot and got my money's worth.

I’ve not had anything from HMRC, not sure what you’d get from them unless you claimed benefits?

The official government website asks for a full birth certificate with at least 1 parent name and a document with your NI number on from either a previous employer or a government agency. The issue is my previous employer before my current one was nearly 15 years ago, hence why I’d imagine it’s normally asked for when you start your employment and not 14 years after you start!

Savvy_Sue

Manxman_in_exile wrote: »

What documentation do they actually ask for apart from a passport? (EDIT: eg you must[?] have some correspondence from HMRC showing a Ni No. Is that not sufficient?).

You asked ... There's List A, and List B.

A driving licence may help establish identity, especially a photo licence. But anyone can apply for a driving licence, with or without the RTW.

Manxman_in_exile

supersaver2 wrote: »

I’ve not had anything from HMRC, not sure what you’d get from them unless you claimed benefits?

The official government website asks for a full birth certificate with at least 1 parent name and a document with your NI number on from either a previous employer or a government agency. The issue is my previous employer before my current one was nearly 15 years ago, hence why I’d imagine it’s normally asked for when you start your employment and not 14 years after you start!

Not benefits, no. Have you never received a PAYE Coding Notice, or a P800 tax calculation?


I was going to say that I find this hard to believe, but, thinking about it, I'm not sure I ever have either. I think if your PAYE salary is your only source of income and you don't have to do a tax return, you may have nothing from HMRC with your NI No on. (You are right, the Annual Tax Summary does not have a NI No.).


I'm scratching my head to think what other documentation from a Govt Dept you may have with your NI No on(?).

Manxman_in_exile

Savvy_Sue wrote: »

You asked ... There's List A, and List B.

A driving licence may help establish identity, especially a photo licence. But anyone can apply for a driving licence, with or without the RTW.

I did, didn't I!

Manxman_in_exile

Savvy_Sue wrote: »

You asked ... There's List A, and List B.

A driving licence may help establish identity, especially a photo licence. But anyone can apply for a driving licence, with or without the RTW.

OK. That's really interesting and, in my own case, at least, a bit worrying!


Reading through section C, "Acceptable Documents", the section title refers to UK passports but, confusingly, next mentions British passports. (I have a British passport, but not a UK one as the Isle of Man is not part of the UK). All of the example passports depicted there have "United Kingdom" on the cover, but mine does not. So I'm wondering whether my passport establishes my RTW in the UK?


But then it goes on to citizens from the "Common Travel Area" (which IoM is part of) and says a birth certificate and NI No on a document from a Govt agency will suffice. I can currently satisfy the second requirement but not the first as the only copy of my birth certificate I have is a short form one. (I suppose I could always get a full certificate if necessary).


However (and to my great relief) when I eventually get down to List A I find that item (1) is a passport showing the holder to be a "British citizen", which my passport does.


I think it's unfortunate that on a single page (p12) the guidance refers to "UK passports" and "Current British passports". In my experience, unless you are from the IoM or CI, most people don't appreciate the differences.


If I had to establish my RTW today, I wonder if all HR departments would accept my non-UK passport? Yes, it says I'm a "British citizen", but it doesn't have "United Kingdom" on the cover like the examples shown in the main body of the guidance.

supersaver2

I had a chat with my neighbour this morning who works at a recruitment agency and does these checks daily who said a full birth certificate and letter from HMRC would suffice so I’ve requested a pension forecast and will hopefully get this next week. He was gobsmacked that they are asking after 14 years of employment though!

The more I think about it, HR had my P45 when I started which would have had my NI on from my last employer and have seen my passport, birth certificate and usual bills when I had my crb check, clearly it wasn’t logged that they had sight of these.

Caused me a bit of stress to be honest!

Manxman_in_exile

I'm a bit surprised you don't already have anything from HMRC, but as I said earlier, I'm not sure I ever had anything from them until I retired and got a tax refund.


I then requested a pension forecast which came through quite quickly. Or at least I was expecting several weeks(!) but it was only 10 - 14 days. As others have said, if you've been employed for 14 years and you are a British citizen, they can wait a bit longer. There can#t be much risk of them being fined for employing you.


I'm no payroll expert, but I wouldn't be surprised if P45s don't have to be kept for more than six years.