National Insurance

If you intend to work in UK then one of the high priority task after landing in UK would be to apply for NI i.e. National Insurance no.
For working in UK, one needs to hold a National Insurance, which is a card with unique number assigned to each holder to identify a tax-payer. This card is somewhat similar to PAN in India, just for your understanding. All the tax contributions are done using the NI number.

Your NI number is your own personal number and you keep the same one all your life, only you can use it.
Keep this number and the card safe with you as it can be used by criminals to steal your identity.
Your NI number is used as a reference number for the whole benefits and tax credits system. It's also used for:
1) making tax and National Insurance deductions through Pay As You Earn (PAYE)
2) recording your entitlement to the State Pension claiming
3) Jobseeker's Allowance
4) claiming Housing Benefit

Please note some of the above benefits might be available to only UK citizens and not applicable for the persons staying in the country on student/tier one/tier two/holiday maker visa.
You will be required to provide National Insurance number while applying or being accepted in any job, hence if you intend to work in UK and hold appropriate visa for working then you will need the NI to be accepted in a job.

To apply for National Insurance, visit nearest Jobcentre Plus, you can find your nearest Jobcentre Plus using google maps or visit www.maps.google.co.uk, and enter 'jobcentre plus near [postcode]'. Please replace [postcode] with postcode of your residence/accommodation. To know how to use google map for other locations/places please click here.

To know more about National Insurance, how to apply for one, and other information about National Insurance ->
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