Dear All,

I have a client who is a German National, has worked in the UK for 11 months but had to stop working as she is a single mother and was unable to provide the childcare her daughter needs. She always worked under a temporary NI Number, never applied for a permanent one.

She claimed JSA and HB at the end of July and was then told she had to come for the Habitual Residence Test (which she would actually be exempt from as an EU worker, I believe). She passed it and was then subsequently told that because she only has a temporary NI Number she would be unable to claim any JSA. Can anyone tell me if that is correct? She paid all her contributions during her 11 months work but failed to get a permanent NI Number as she wasn't advised to do so. She is now in arrears with her rent, has no money coming in and is very worried. Has anyone got any suggestions on that case? I'd be grateful.

Many thanks
Antje Adler

She needs to apply for a permanent number (this should already have happened if she's been working for 11 months but clearly hasn't).
The DWP should automatically arrange for her to be interviewed to be allocated an NI number. Once she has been interviewed she should be awarded interim payments unless there are very good reasons to think she would be refused a number.

You need to chase the local office to arrange for an NI number allocation interview.