UK Pensions Buy Backs... no trace of my national insurance number

Can anyone advise...I have worked in the UK from '95-'99...I have lost my NINO national insurance number. I managed to speak with a lovely very helpful lady in Future Pensions Centre today but try as she might she could not get my details on any database!!
I have contacted HMRC (rude and unhelpful after 70minute hold)...I filed and returned CA5403 for lost national insurance number...it seems I don't exist.
I have contacted pensions...they can only provide so much information without NINO...
My previous UK address/post code not recognised?!
I have contacted former employer HF/Payroll...they can only provide the information with NINO (which I don't have). It has become chicken and egg?!
The HMRC App leads me round in circles! Can anyone advise/help/point me in the right direction??

I filed and returned CA5403 for lost national insurance number

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What response did you get? have they written back to you?

My previous UK address/post code not recognised?!

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What do mean by "not recognised"? is this a valid address? have you got the post code correct? can you look it up on google maps?

I have contacted former employer H[R]/Payroll.

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Have you written to employer or did you ring? Do you have your employee number (if any), exact dates of employment, address you were living at while employed there?

Another thought - did you register to vote while you were living there? Did you have a bank account, credit card, utility bills, driving licence?

Did you use a different spelling of your name?

Did you pay insurance? Were you working for cash?

I'm new to this posting so will answer above questions as one?:

Regarding CA5403; they have written back stating they are unable to confirm/supply NINO because "I don't have one"!? They advised I apply for an NINO from Jobcentre (this won't address my national insurance contributions/history and its unlikely they will issue a NINO to someone who isn't resident in UK)

Regarding address I checked postcodes on the UK Post website. I have old personal letters...postcode is correct but not recognised!!??

I have contacted former employer by phone and have written to them awaiting reply.
Can't recall if I registered to vote but while I studied I had a 'medical card', yes I had bank account, credit cards and utility bills!!

Again, I don't understand what you mean by postcode not being recognised. Recognised by whom?

Have you verified that the address and postcode you were living at are correct? Did you change your address at any time? Do you recall applying for your National Insurance number? Once upon a time, you could go in person.

That's step 1.

Step 2:
Write a letter to your former employer include all your personal details, full name, dob, address(es) (at the time you were working there)

Add the name of your manager at the time, the office location, your employee number etc. As much information as you possibly can. You might want to add a copy of your current passport to verify your id.

I think by medical card, you mean NHS number. I'm not certain your former GP will have your NI number, but its worth writing to them.

Do you have any records of your bank / credit card / utility bills? Do you have any old P60s?

In answer to your question Brendan: yes name and DOB is spelt and presented in passport format.

I paid insurance, not working for cash...employed by NHS!!

dominic meehan said:

employed by NHS

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Then they should definitely have records - do up the letter, not surprising they won't give any info over the phone. But a detailed letter should do the trick.

The NHS is made up of many different Trusts, Agencies etc. Do you know the name of the specific entity which you were employed by?

Presumably you paid superannuation. Have you had any contact with the NHS Pensions Agency since you left the UK. If not you should contact them and update your details, they would have your NI number on record as well.

in response DannyBoyD on the HMRC App/GOV.UK step 1. asks for name (first and last) and DOB, step 2. asks for national insurance number if you have lost national insurance number you are asked for postcode, I have ebtered postcode with spaces and without E1 2RA, the message I receive "The Information you gave does not match our records" ... Name, DOB appear as on my passport and birth certificate.
When I have engaged technical support I am asked to input national insurance number, if I have lost I am redirected and the cycle begins again!!
Yes have verified the address is correct and it was my last UK address. I have cheques tubs (the midland bank no longer exists HSBC now I think)
Unfortunately no P60s if I had I would have national insurance number.
I have written to HR/Payroll of previous employer,requesting P60 for 1996 and pay slips its a 'HAil MAry' as they ask for your...guess what...national insurance number...I've included photocopy of passport, drivers license. birth certificate and even an old emloyees ID (unfortunately there are no employment numbers on photo ID only my job title and department)....I await reply.

Was that the UK address you were at when you were allocated your NI number? I inputted my last UK address and got a similar message. However I was successful getting my number by post.

HMRC App/GOV.UK step 1. asks for name (first and last) and DOB, step 2. asks for national insurance number

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This is the wrong place, you won't get your NI from here.

You need to request your NI number be sent to you by post. See screen shot.

Use this Link

I had a similar issue and when I finally got through they did a search and found out I had a temporary NI number.
It was proving too difficult to get anywhere after that so I gave up.
I also worked for the nhs but only for a year

Daisyboo said:

found out I had a temporary NI number.

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Did you apply for a NI number?

No

As @Daisyboo you may have had a temporary number.

I was in the same boat. Couldn't get anywhere. Had 4 years employment between 2 companies, but employment was managed by a firm of accountants due to the parent companies being in Ireland and France and have since closed.

Number started with TN (temporary number) your date of birth and then M or F for gender. EG TN010170M

It seems that they were not used in a way that they can be traced back. So if you find anything and it starts with TN, then I reckon you can give up the struggle.

Back in the 90's there was no requirement for a Nat insurance number to obtain bank account / credit cards / driving license (paper and valid til you were 70!!!) or even to purchase a house and get a mortgage.

If you are or were close to the border can be worth dropping in to relevant office in NI. I had online problems and this worked and happened to be passing by Newry, extremely helpful receptionist. I gave all the addresses I could remember and date of birth and we had a few goes before finally finding it.

I also feel with name, date of birth, and the years you were there it must be somewhat narrowed down even before address, it was the Department of Communities I went to, citizens advice in NI might be helpful too

@dominic_meehan - did you have any luck with this? I’m in the exact same position, worked in UK 2000-2004, have no payslips/p60 to show NI number, going around in circles on the UK Gov website…