National Insurance
As a PhD student, you must have a National Insurance number which you will have to provide to the University, as your employer. This page should be especially helpful for international students, both EU and overseas, who may not be very familiar with National Insurance.
What is National Insurance?
National Insurance is a taxation system which is used by the government to assist people on benefits, people who are sick, or retired people. Paying National Insurance for at least 30 years will make you eligible to receive a state pension, once you retire. In some cases, you are not required to pay National Insurance (see below). However, you can always opt to make more contributions to National Insurance, even if there is no requirement for you to pay at all, to increase your pension rates once you retire.
Do I have to pay for National Insurance?
Although you must apply for a National Insurance number, all PhD stipends (salaries) are exempt from tax and National Insurance. Unless you choose to do so, you are not required to contribute anything out of your stipend towards National Insurance for the duration of your research degree.
What do I do if I'm starting work soon, but haven't received my National Insurance number yet?
Although you should apply for a National Insurance number as soon as possible, if you have documents proving your right to work in the UK, this should not be a problem. Simply inform your department that you have already applied for your National Insurance number, and are waiting for it to arrive. As your stipend is not taxable, it should be paid to you as normal, even if you have applied for, but not received, your National Insurance number yet.
How to apply for a National Insurance number:
To apply for National Insurance, you must already be in the UK and initiate the process by phone. You can either do this by:
Telephone: 0800 141 2075
or
Textphone: 0800 141 2438
You may then have to go into JobCentre Plus for an assessment of your eligibility to receive a National Insurance number. They have offices all around England, so if you are already here for your degree, you should be told to go to the Norwich branch in Pottergate. There, you will have to present proof of identity (e.g passport or ID card), proof of right to reside in the UK (e.g a right-to-occupy-premises letter from your university accommodation or house agency), and proof of right to work in the UK. If you have any questions about these documents, you should be able to resolve them by calling the telephone number above. Your National Insurance number should take 6-8 weeks after the assessment to arrive by letter. Make sure you provide your current address so that the letter reaches you!
For more information on the application process, visit the relevant government page.
JobCentre Plus Norwich address: Kiln House, Pottergate, Norwich, NR2 1BZ
If you have more questions on National Insurance, please visit the National Insurance government website. If you are facing any problems, drop in to the postgraduateSU office in Union House - you can find us under Education & Engagement!