In section 1 of the Social Security Administration Act 1992 (entitlement to benefit dependent on claim), after subsection (1) insert—

“(1A)

No person whose entitlement to any benefit depends on his making a claim shall be entitled to the benefit unless subsection (1B) below is satisfied in relation both to the person making the claim and to any other person in respect of whom he is claiming benefit.

(1B)

This subsection is satisfied in relation to a person if—

(a)

the claim is accompanied by—

(i)

a statement of the person’s national insurance number and information or evidence establishing that that number has been allocated to the person; or

(ii)

information or evidence enabling the national insurance number that has been allocated to the person to be ascertained; or

(b)

the person makes an application for a national insurance number to be allocated to him which is accompanied by information or evidence enabling such a number to be so allocated.

(1C)

Regulations may make provision disapplying subsection (1A) above in the case of—

(a)

prescribed benefits;

(b)

prescribed descriptions of persons making claims; or

(c)

prescribed descriptions of persons in respect of whom benefit is claimed,

or in other prescribed circumstances.”