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<p>The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has continued to monitor all aspects
of the National Insurance Number (NINo) process throughout recent months, as we continue
to respond to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and its effect on our services.</p><p
/><p>When applying for a NINo, all applicants are required to have their identity
verified. For those applicants whose identity has already been verified by another
UK Government Department, primarily the Home Office, their applications are dealt
with by post. For those who have not had their identity verified, primarily EU/EEA
nationals, the current process requires them to attend a face to face interview with
DWP to verify their identity.</p><p> </p><p>Due to COVID-19, the face to face interview
process was suspended from 17<sup>th</sup> March 2020. This enabled us to retrain
and redeploy a large number of staff to help process the substantial number of benefit
claims received during this period.</p><p> </p><p>It is not possible, due to the requirement
to examine customers’ ID documents, to offer a virtual service. However, we are working
on a digital solution that should enable us to restart the process incrementally by
the end of September 2020.</p><p> </p><p>Employers are required to conduct mandatory
Right to Work checks on all prospective employees. Having a NINo is not part of these
checks, and the possession of a NINo does not prove that an individual has a right
to work. Indeed, an individual can apply for a job and take up employment without
a NINo and the HMRC standard process allows payment of salary and collection of tax
and NI without a NINo.</p>
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