NATIONAL INSURANCE
Paying National Insurance Contributions helps to provide state funds.
The revenue that it produces benefits those who are sick, unemployed, or have retired from the workforce.
Most employees pay National Insurance (NI) voluntary contributions. They are usually abbreviated to NICs.
Paying National Insurance helps to secure your entitlement for claiming certain benefits. As a rule, NIC payments start from when you reach the age of 16.
NI payments also help to assure you get the State Pension in later life. That is providing you have paid enough NICs to qualify.
National Insurance Contributions can be paid by you, or they can be credited to you. These are a part of the UK taxation laws that take place each tax year. The amount of contributions or credits that you have accumulated shows up on your National Insurance record.
Guide to National Insurance Contributions
National Insurance
NIC Explained
What does the NI number mean and what is National Insurance in the United Kingdom? Find out how much you pay to HMRC and why you need to pay NIC.
NI Abroad
Paying National Insurance abroad helps to protect your State Pension. HMRC can inform those who work overseas whether they must pay UK NIC.
NI Records
If you check your National Insurance record online you get several important results. The NI record check shows contributions made, pension qualifying years, gaps, and credits.
NI Refund
The GOV.UK website helps you claim National Insurance refunds and repayments. You can check the different National Insurance classes before you apply for a refund.
The Small Stamp
Married women and widows could pay lower rates of NICs before April 1977. Before the scheme ended, they called the married women’s reduced rate National Insurance the ‘small stamp’.
National Insurance Credit
Carer’s Credit
Caring for someone means you may qualify to claim Carer’s Credit allowance. It is a weekly Class 3 National Insurance tax credit used to fill gaps in your National Insurance record.
NI Credits
What if you cannot make your regular NI Contributions? The National Insurance credits help build up ‘qualifying years’ and maintain your NI record.
National Insurance Deferment
Some employees can defer Class 1 National Insurance payments if they have more than one job. As a rule you pay a reduced rate of 2% on your weekly earnings.
National Insurance Helpline
NIC Contact Number
The National Insurance helpline is for those who never received a number or lost it. You can also get your National Insurance Number posted to you using form CA5403.
National Insurance Helpline Telephone Number
Telephone: 0300 200 3500
Textphone: 0300 200 3519
Outside UK: +441912037010
Monday to Friday: 8am to 8pm
Saturday: 8am to 4pm
Closed Sundays and bank holidays.
National Insurance Number
Apply for NI Number
Check how to apply for a National Insurance number. You can also find out how to get your first National Insurance number at 16.
Employment History
You can get proof of employment history from HM Revenue and Customs. HMRC will supply you with a record of your past employment.
Find NI Number
Your National Insurance number is written on a payslip, P60, and most letters about Income Tax. You can find a lost National Insurance number through the GOV.UK website.
National Insurance Rates
Employee earnings and NI category letters determine the amounts deducted. Discover how the National Insurance rates and categories work for the current tax year.
Voluntary National Insurance
Pay Class 2 NIC
How to pay Class 2 National Insurance if you do not use Self Assessment? Self-employed workers can use voluntary Class 2 National Insurance Contributions instead.
Pay Voluntary Class 3
There are several easy ways to pay voluntary Class 3 NI contributions. You can pay by cheque, CHAPS, by Direct Debit, at your bank, or at the Post Office.
Voluntary Contributions
Check how to pay voluntary NI contributions in installments. Paying by choice is a way of topping up gaps in your National Insurance record.