artaml2

Hello Everyone,
I have been living in the US for 25 years and am thinking of returning to the UK. I have a national insurance number, but have not used it in 25 years. Is it still valid? And does anybody know how I can get the national insurance card?
Thanks

GinaUK

Hi,

your national insurance number is for life. So, yes, it'll still be valid. There is no national insurance card (well, when you first get your number, they send it on a card but that is just to help you remember it).

If you want confirmation of your national insurance number, you can contact: National Insurance Contributions Office, Benton Park View, Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE98 1ZZ

Gina

Fleaflyfloflum

I was gone 10yrs and my old number is still valid. I havent even needed to get a card or anything, i just quote my number and it appears to be on the system whenever it has been asked for.

artaml2

Thanks to the both of you for the information!

Marmalade

I have been away for 20 years and am returning next year. I still have my British drivers licence from back then. Is my national insurance number on it? Might be a silly question, but looking into other things I was told it was. Not sure as I can't remember how many numbers etc the NI number is. Can anyone tell me if it is on my drivers licence and where? Thanks.

JAJ

Drivers licences don't have NI numbers shown on them.

This page may help:
http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/nic/ni-numbers.htm

JAJ

NI numbers are valid for life. As far as I understand, if your card is lost you would apply for a new one on return to the U.K. If you have a British citizen passport then you do not need an NI number to start employment but many employers don't understand this.

After 25 years the U.K. is going to be quite a different place. You may settle in, but a proportion of returnees do not. If you haven't got your U.S. citizenship then you should think hard about naturalization before you leave, as otherwise your option to return will be gone once your green card is lost. Additional things you can do on top of getting citizenship are see if it's possible to keep your job open for a while (eg take sabbatical or unpaid leave rather than resign) and look into whether you can rent out any real estate you have in the U.S.

The U.S. dollar is weak at the moment and British real estate prices are at a historic peak, so don't be surprised at how little U.K. real estate you can get for the U.S. equivalent.

You don't say whether or not you've got a spouse in tow, if so then a visa for spouse will be needed.

Fleaflyfloflum

I have an interesting question related to this subject. My husband is not British, but a New Zealander. When he worked in UK 10yrs ago on a work permit, he was issued with a NI number. He is currently waiting for his settlement visa to be processed. If and when he gets it, doe she still have the same NI number or will he be issued with a new one?

GinaUK

As JAJ has said, NI numbers are for life. Your husband's NI number will still be valid and in the system. If he doesn't remember it, he can phone them once he is in the UK: 0845 915 7006 . Or he can write to them here: HM Revenue & Customs, National Insurance Contributions Office , Additional Business Workstream 1, Longbenton, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE98 1ZZ.

Gina

king kong

Im sure its for life because when i started using it again when i worked there for a few months ,newcastle promptly sent me a bill for 4000 pounds for non -payment for about 7 years ,which was as far as they went back even though i hadnt used it for neally 19 years .
All was resolved and i didnt pay a bean but they are a bloody nightmare to get hold of on the phone at times .

king kong

mine has something like WM 88 23 29 H

Fleaflyfloflum

Thanks for that. I just wasnt sure if a number issued to someone who was only there on a work permit had a different kind of number that wasnt permanent or something.

Marmalade

Thanks JAJ; that clears up that question. Thank you.