National Insurance Number

[Emerald95]

My ex and I are filling out forms for our DLA receiving 4 year old DS to get him a council pass. They want his National Insurance Number. I have always written DS's National Insurance number as the reference on his DLA form as I was under the impression that was his National Insurance Number. Ex says while the reference is set out like a national insurance number (Letter letter 6xnumbers letter) it can't be DS's National Insurance number because he isn't 16. I've left it blank but can anyone answer me, is that his National Insurance Number?

Just bumping this thread for you, @Emerald95. Hopefully someone will be along soon to explain.

Also adding a link to the Gov.UK webpage on National Insurance numbers - which states: "You’ll normally be sent a National Insurance number automatically, in the 3 months before your 16th birthday".

ive always assumed that the reference number was his national insurance number (I think you are assigned one when you are in the benefits system) you could always phone DWP and ask them

Yes, it is the NI number.
I've just dug up an old DLA letter from 2011 when my daughter was 12yo and it definitely has her national insurance number as the reference.
I assume they just assign it early if it's needed.