The National Insurance Number is a number that identifies you in the UK and it’s used for tax/benefits purposes. This means that you will need it most of the time if you are looking for a job or claiming benefits.
This number is strictly personal and will follow you for all your life. If you leave England and come back, your NIN will remain the same.
To apply for it you have first to call Jobcentre Plus at 0845 600 0643 from 8.00 am to 6.00 pm Monday to Friday. They will verify that you actually need a NIN and will fix you an appointment in the nearest Jobcentre in order to submit your request (you’ll have to provide your address).
If your English is not sufficient for the interview one-to-one, you can request an interpreter.
The Jobcentre Plus in Liverpool that deals with NIN is situated at 249. St Mary's Rd - Garston, Liverpool, L19 and can be easily reached by bus although it’s outside the city centre.
All you have to present during the interview is your passport/national identity card and any document that will help you prove your identity and residency in the UK. Very useful are rental contract, job offers etc. You’ll be provided a NIN even if you cannot prove residency or work, as long as you are eligible to live in the UK.
Once you finish the interview, a document will be provided you, where it is stated that you attended that interview. The actual NIN card will be sent to you by post at the address you have provided to the interviewer.
Your NIN will be asked anytime you start a new regular job, as it is used to calculate the taxes you are going to pay, or when you claim benefits, in order to check how much in taxes you have paid in the past.
For further info you can visit the DirectGov web site.
