Brits looking to apply for any kind of benefits from the government will notice that they will be required to provide their National Insurance Number (NIN).
The government-issued number is used by a wide variety of organisations, including HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC), the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), as well as your local council (if you claim Housing Benefit). However, the number is generally used to ensure that you make your National Insurance contributions while ensuring taxes are recorded in your name only.
A National Insurance Number is made up of a series of letters and numbers and will always stay the same. However, you may be in a situation where you don't use your National Insurance Number that often, in which case it can be confusing when a government form or application asks you to fill it in.
