Could be a stupid question - National Insurance Card......

[QueenOfQuotes]

what happens if you've changed your name (ie got married) It's just occured to me, while filling in an application form, that my NI card is still in my maiden name. I get my tax credits, and child benefit in my married name, so obviously they've got my NI number - are you supposed to apply for a new card with the correct name on, or would it just "show up" on the system when they check for your details that you are now who you say you are?

You keep the NI number but you don't get issued a new card AFAIK

Dunno, mate

Is there a phone number on it? (I'm so old I don't have one so I don't know). I would ring them and get it from the horse's mouth I think. (They can probably update it and send you a new one.)

When I got married 3 years ago I phoned them and asked about this. They said to write to them informing them of my change of name. but...I forgot and I've never done it. so I still have my card in my maiden name. Every now and then I remember and think I must phone them up again but I never do.

Um.. QOQ, there is no obviously about it! Your National Insurance record is held on a completely separate computer system to the tax credits and the child benefit systems.

The card itself doesn't matter (it says on it that it isn't proof of ID) but if your NI record is still in your old name and/or old address you may have problems if you ever need to claim jobseekers (for example). My first job after leaving school was chasing up big gaps in people's contribution history where they'd changed names and/or addresses without telling us- very frustrating it was and usually "our fault" that we hadn't noticed..