How is a National Insurance Number Issued

[charliecat]

Does it follow you from birth or ?????
And if you were born Miss Tuppence at birth but were known at school etc as Miss Money what name would be on the N.I card?
And is there a way to change it before its issued to the name you would prefer.

When I was 16, I got one sent to me - the card was in my maiden name but I kept the same number when I got married (no idea where the card is now).

You have one only regardless of name changes - it doesn't change when you change your name as it is used to track all benefit entitlements. You can let them know what your name is when they send you the card at 16, but it will have to be your legal name IYSWIM. You can't jsut write and say that you'd like it to be issued in the name ofDonald Duck uness you have changed your name.

Yep, ok, i was known throughout my childhood as one name and NI was issued in birth name and rightly so.
However..
I have a friend whos N.I was issued in his prefered stepdads name, his mum says he wasnt adopted, benefits claimed in that name but now his job wants to know where the name change occured as its a different name to his birth certificate.
He wasnt adopted. How could his NI be in a different name, or how come it hasnt flashed up when he claimed Job seekers last year?

Your NI number is the same regardless of name changes, which is why the owness (sp?) is one the individual to inform of name changes etc

Right..hmm ok...so how to explain to the work, the change in name? As theres no documents to expplain is there?

Was he known by stepdads name when he was 16? This is when the NI number is issued to the individual? You can be known as whatever you like throughout life but can only legally change your name by deed poll, so he needs to perhaps show that he was receiving benefits in his preferred name and that his what he wants to be known as.