Immigrating to the UK

So being born in England back in 78, and moving to SA in 84 and never been back, I have what seems to be an old NHS number as I read on Wikipedia that new numbers were introduced in 96.

Can anybody advise on what I need to do with regards to my NHS number? Do I need to get a new number or do the old numbers still work? Would it be something I apply for now, or only once I immigrate?

NHS number or NI number?

NI number is the more important one. Does it look something like AB123456B?
 
Change it to payg. Ensure that you send an SMS every month which keeps the number active . I have been doing this with my UK number but with that, I just need to do something every two months

Essentially you need to make a charge-able item every so often to keep the phone active. Even if you load funds on it, it’s the charge-able event that’s what matter.

Keep in mind that this varies per network provider so eg
Cell-C = 30 days and they will recycle your number,
Vodacom = ?? I think 90d, MTN = 60d I think
 
NHS number or NI number?

NI number is the more important one. Does it some thing like AB123456B?
I am pretty sure it said NHS number. GF napping now, will check in safe later to be sure after she wakes up.

What's a NI number?
 
I am pretty sure it said NHS number. GF napping now, will check in safe later to be sure after she wakes up.

What's a NI number?

NI number is national insurance number, it’s the closest to an ID number there is in the UK.

From the .gov.uk page

Who uses your National Insurance number
These organisations need to know what your number is:

  • HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC)
  • your employer
  • the Department for Work and Pensions (which includes Jobcentre Plus and the Pension, Disability and Carers Service), if you claim state benefits, or in Northern Ireland the Department for Social Development
  • your local council, if you claim Housing Benefit, or the Northern Ireland Housing Executive
  • Electoral Registration Officers (to check your identity when you register to vote)
  • the Student Loan Company, if you apply for a student loan
  • your pension provider if you have a personal or stakeholder pension
  • your Individual Savings Account (ISA) provider, if you open an ISA
  • authorised financial service providers who help you buy and sell investments like shares, bonds and derivatives - you can check if your provider is authorised
https://www.gov.uk/national-insurance/your-national-insurance-number


Your NHS number isn’t important and isn’t even really needed to get medical treatment, they’ll normally just ask name and DOB. I don’t think I’ve been asked for my NHS number in the last 10 years (or ever).

If you don’t have an NHS number the system will just generate one for you first time you register with a GP, but you’ll need to apply for an NI number on arrival if you don’t have one.
 
NI number is national insurance number, it’s the closest to an ID number there is in the UK.

From the .gov.uk page

Who uses your National Insurance number
These organisations need to know what your number is:

  • HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC)
  • your employer
  • the Department for Work and Pensions (which includes Jobcentre Plus and the Pension, Disability and Carers Service), if you claim state benefits, or in Northern Ireland the Department for Social Development
  • your local council, if you claim Housing Benefit, or the Northern Ireland Housing Executive
  • Electoral Registration Officers (to check your identity when you register to vote)
  • the Student Loan Company, if you apply for a student loan
  • your pension provider if you have a personal or stakeholder pension
  • your Individual Savings Account (ISA) provider, if you open an ISA
  • authorised financial service providers who help you buy and sell investments like shares, bonds and derivatives - you can check if your provider is authorised
https://www.gov.uk/national-insurance/your-national-insurance-number


Your NHS number isn’t important and isn’t even really needed to get medical treatment, they’ll normally just ask name and DOB. I don’t think I’ve been asked for my NHS number in the last 10 years (or ever).

If you don’t have an NHS number the system will just generate one for you first time you register with a GP, but you’ll need to apply for an NI number on arrival if you don’t have one.

Thanks for this.

OK, had quick look, its a NHS number. Coincidentally, this same number is also on my birth certificate as "NHS number". Its format is AAAAA.## so is definitely the old one.

Do you know if you were given an NI number as a child before 84?

EDIT: Its only given when you turn 16 or later.
 

Thanks for this.

********************
The National Insurance number is assigned to persons over the age of 16 years old.

Everyone in the UK who wants to work, have to have a National Insurance number. Persons who do not have a number, have to apply for this number.

It is, however, only possible to apply for the NI number once you are in the UK. You also have to have the right to work or study in the UK, before you are able to apply for the NI number.
 
Thanks for this.

********************
The National Insurance number is assigned to persons over the age of 16 years old.

Everyone in the UK who wants to work, have to have a National Insurance number. Persons who do not have a number, have to apply for this number.

It is, however, only possible to apply for the NI number once you are in the UK. You also have to have the right to work or study in the UK, before you are able to apply for the NI number.
Yeah, get as soon as you're here. You'll have to pay emergency tax if you start working and don't have one.
 
@Dave

I believe you lived in UK for 20 years and returned to SA? May I ask you why you decided to come back to SA, and is it a "permanent" move?
 
I'm guessing it's a quick process though? Not like our friends at HA?

Yes, it’s pretty quick, 4-6 weeks but you have to make an appointment first which might add a bit more time on. You can start working without one (though you’ll pay emergency tax rate until you get it).
 
Ah, my bad, I misread that post then.

If it helps you know who is actually in the UK (rather than people using Google and posting that as if it’s personal experience), other contributors in this thread that are actually in the UK are @zippy and @The Voice. @Spizz is also English :p:X3: and spends a lot of time here even though he lives in SA.
 
Yeah, get as soon as you're here. You'll have to pay emergency tax if you start working and don't have one.
I think it is called a surcharge for NI and the cost is £400 per year.
 
I think it is called a surcharge for NI and the cost is £400 per year.

You think wrong again.

An NI number is free and supplied to all people with the right to work or study in the UK.

Aren’t you tired of adding uninformed crap to this thread yet?
 
@signates. It has just come to my attention that university degrees completed in SA are not fully accepted in the UK. This may also be the case in Ireland. This is even if the course states that it is recognised internationally. You may have to do a bridging course for a few months or years.

Also duplicate documents signed by SAPS will not be accepted so it must be done by a "real" commissioner of oaths. I found this to be true in mainland Europe as well.
 
You think wrong again.

An NI number is free and supplied to all people with the right to work or study in the UK.

Aren’t you tired of adding uninformed crap to this thread yet?
Oh my word. The number is free for all immigrants. But EU nationals and their family members pay no surcharge but UK national's spouse and nationals of non EU countries must pay a £400 surcharge per year for state healthcare.
This is payable when you apply for a long stay visa for immigration.

Me and signates have proven you wrong in all your posts yet your brain tells you that you are winning this competition. Why do I get all the upvotes and you don't?
 
Oh my word. The number is free for all immigrants. But EU nationals and their family members pay no surcharge but UK national's spouse and nationals of non EU countries must pay a £400 surcharge per year for state healthcare.
This is payable when you apply for a long stay visa for immigration.

The discussion was about NI NUMBERS, you idiot, nothing to do with surcharges, maybe read the posts you’re answering in future?

Me and signates have proven you wrong in all your posts yet your brain tells you that you are winning this competition. Why do I get all the upvotes and you don't?

Don’t bring signates into your idiocy, link to one post where you proved me wrong.

You’re an idiot that uses google to try and look knowledgeable, your ignorance is dangerous and the crap you post could well do damage to a persons plans when they discover you’re talking out your rear end.

Seriously, go find people looking for information on living in Portugal, which you actually have some life experience of, stop trying to look clever adding nonsense to threads you have no personal knowledge or experience of.
 
I have been researching all subjects that I'm passionate about for many years during my retirement. If I am not sure of the answer then I will not answer but do a proper research to be able to reply correctly. Emigration, Immigration, tax and cross border tax has been my major interest.

So please stop throwing your toys out the cot now. I know what I'm talking about.

You say the discussion was about NI NUMBERS. What does that mean? All non EU immigrants have to pay a surcharge of £400 pa before the visa is accepted. Finish and klaar. Only once when accepted will you be able to apply for free state health care and given a number.

So I am an idiot to Google GOV.UK and https://www.freemovement.org.uk. That is where I get all my info from and the latter is the most prominent and well known immigration website in the UK.

Read this. I doubt you will as you know better.
https://www.gov.uk/healthcare-immigration-application/how-much-pay
 
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