Continuing problems applying for National Insurance Numbers

Money Box

BBC

Business

4.2 • 804 Ratings

🗓️ 29 May 2021

⏱️ 26 minutes

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Summary

A Money Box listener has been refused work by two employers because he was unable to provide his National Insurance Number despite the Department for Work and Pensions saying individuals can start work without one. Last year we reported that people coming to the UK with the right to work weren’t able to obtain a National Insurance Number because the government had stopped issuing them. People can now apply - but that process takes up to 16 weeks and trying to get work in the meantime can be tough. Paul Lewis talks to Jonathan Reynolds MP, Labour’s Shadow Secretary of State for Work and Pensions.

National Savings & Investments apologises to more than 14,000 customers after it changed the terms and conditions on a savings product without telling them. We hear from Gary Rycroft, a partner at Joseph A Jones solicitors.

The regulator clamps down on insurance firms who cut prices for new customers while quietly increasing them for loyal ones. Michael Sicsic, managing director of financial services consultancy Sicsic Advisory, and a former head of supervision for general insurance at the FCA explains all.

And this week a judge rejected a 'scheme of arrangement' offer by Amigo Loans Limited to missold customers. What happens now? Paul talks to Sara Williams, founder of the debt advice website Debt Camel.

Presenter: Paul Lewis Researcher: Sowda Ali Production co-ordinator: Brenda Brown Reporter: Dan Whitworth Producer: Ben Carter Editor: Alex Lewis

Transcript

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0:00.0	In Northern Ireland, from the late 70s to the early 90s, the IRA killed over 40 alleged informers.
0:08.0	But the man who often found, tortured and sometimes killed these people on behalf of the IRA
0:12.0	was himself an informer, a secret British army agent with the codename Stakeknife.
0:18.0	Who gets to play God? And why me? Why my family? When lies are still being told to this day,
0:24.0	who do you believe? I wouldn't even know where to start, and I'm with the IRA.
0:28.5	Steakknife. Listen first on BBC Sounds.
0:33.5	BBC Sounds, music, radio, podcasts. Hello, welcome to this Moneybox podcast. National Savings and Investments apologises to more than
0:43.1	14,000 customers after it changed the terms and conditions on a savings product without
0:49.0	telling them. The regulator clamps down on insurance firms who cut prices for new customers while quietly increasing them for loyal ones.
0:58.1	And a judge condemns an offer by Amigo loans to missold customers as not very friendly at all.
1:05.3	But first, a Moneybox listener has been refused work by two employers because he was unable to provide his national insurance number,
1:12.9	despite the Department for Work and Pension, saying individuals can start work without one.
1:18.3	Money Watch reporter Dan Whitworth's here, Dan.
1:20.5	Well, Paul, listeners might remember that in October last year,
1:23.6	we reported that people coming to the UK from the EU and others with the right to work
1:28.7	here weren't able to get a national insurance number because the government had stopped
1:33.5	issuing them. Now, people can now apply, but that process takes up to 16 weeks and trying to get
1:39.6	work in the meantime can be tough. Now, Chris's partner Ron recently moved to the UK from the Philippines.
1:45.7	He obtained his right to work documents and then applied for a national insurance number in January.
1:51.3	We called the advertised help number to inquire on numerous occasions before and after 16 weeks.
1:57.7	But we got no specific updates and we will refer to other numbers which didn't
2:03.1	work. The DWP say that people can work without a national insurance number and we were aware
	...

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