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Dept for Work and Pensions

Answer

Mr. Nick Gibb: To ask Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the procedures are for obtaining a national insurance number for adults who have entered the UK (a) legally, (b) illegally and (c) on claiming asylum [72127] Malcolm Wicks: I have been asked to reply. The National Insurance number (NINO) allocation process for persons from abroad is known as the Enhanced NINO Process and is administered by Jobcentre Plus. The process involves a rigorous face to face interview, scrutiny of supporting documentation, and corroborative checks made on the information provided prior to the allocation of a NINO. The process applies to all foreign nationals requiring a NINO. Anyone actively seeking work may apply for a NINO regardless of their immigration status. If during the allocation process suspicions are raised as to the legitimacy of an individual's right to be in the country, the case is referred to the Department's National Identity Fraud Unit for further action. Upon arrival in this country asylum seekers are initially supported by the Home Office National Asylum Support Service. Contact with this Department for the allocation of a NINO will therefore not normally take place until a decision has been made by the Home Office on the person's application for asylum. Once this has taken place (or if the person has been in the country for more than 6 months and is still awaiting a decision), an application for a NINO can be made through the Enhanced NINO Process.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

72127; 391 c491W;391 c488W

Session

2001-02

Subjects

Asylum Applications Undocumented migrants Migrants National insurance

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk