national insurance

[char_1990]

i am 15 and have just recieved my national insurance card. Does this still mean I can't get a proper job until i'm 16?

[SaxyJag]

I think so. It does mean that you can be charged NI contributions on earnings above a certain limit, though. For the average fifteen-year-old with a Saturday job, this is academic, because you're unlikely to earn enough to qualify, but if you were to earn a decent amount of money, say, modelling, acting or singing, then you'd be charged at the going rate.

[Ethel]

You don't pay National Insurance under the age of 16, no matter how much you earn.

http://www.adviceguide.org.uk/n6w/index/life/b enefits/national_insurance_contributions_and_b enefits.htm#when_do_you_have_to_pay_national_i nsurance_contributions

Hurrah!

You can work at 15 for a maximum of 35 hours a week during school holidays.

http://www.direct.gov.uk/Parents/FamilyIssuesA ndTheLaw/ChildrensRights/ChildrensRightsArticl es/fs/en?CONTENT_ID=4002945&chk=AaZA0p

[dzug]

You are liable for income tax though should you earn enough

[SaxyJag]

Really? I never knew that. Thanks Ethel. You learn something new every day here. :-)

[Ethel]

Saxyjag - it's not out of the goodness of the government's hearts. They are not giving out favours.

National Insurance entitles the payer to claim sickness benefits and other benefits. They don't want to be paying under 16s when they are off with chicken pox. :)

[SaxyJag]

Does the government ever do anything for anyone, Ethel? Least of all kids. ;-)