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Applying for a National Insurance Number

04/04/2012 12:44:00

Applying for a National Insurance Number with our Aupair Agency

If you have just started working in the UK you must apply for a National Insurance Number by contacting the National Insurance Registrations Helpline on Tel 0845 915 7006. Lines are open 8.30 am to 5.00 pm Monday to Friday.

What happens when you apply for a National Insurance number

Jobcentre Plus will arrange an 'Evidence of Identity' interview for you or send you a postal application. If relevant, they will confirm the date, time and location of your interview and what information/documentation you need to support your application.

What to expect at the 'Evidence of identity' interview

The interview will usually be one-to-one (unless, for example, you need an interpreter). You will be asked questions about why you need a National Insurance number, your background and circumstances.

You will also have to prove your identity. Bring as many 'identity documents' (originals, not photocopies) as you can to your interview. Examples of documents which count are:

valid passport (UK or foreign)
national identity card (UK or foreign)
residence permit or residence card including biometric immigration residency documents
full birth or adoption certificate
full marriage or civil partnership certificate
driving licence (UK or foreign)

If you don't have any of these - or other - identity documents you still must go to the interview. The information you are able to provide might be enough to prove your identity.During the interview a National Insurance number application form will be completed and you will be asked to sign it.

What happens next?

If you were asked to provide additional information you will need to do this by the agreed date. Jobcentre Plus will write and let you know whether your application was successful and, where appropriate, tell you what your National Insurance number is.

If relevant, tell your employer your National Insurance number as soon as you know it. Do not share your National Insurance number with anyone who does not need it as knowledge of your number might help someone to steal your identity.

It is important to keep the letter telling you what your National Insurance number is safe as it is a useful reminder of your number. However, the letter on its own cannot be used to prove your identity and you do not need it to start work. It's the National Insurance number itself that's important.

Childcare Vouchers and Nannies, Mother's Helps, Aupairs

02/21/2012 15:15:00

Two types of financial support are available under the Ofsted regsiter which came into force in April 2007: working tax credits and employer-supported childcare vouchers.

Many nanny employers will not benefit from the working tax credit as only households with a combined family income of £59,000 or less will qualify.

However, it is expected that employer-supported childcare vouchers will become a popular way for parents to make a substantial saving, as this form of tax relief is available to all parents, regardless of income.

Childcare vouchers are just a different way of paying their nanny. Nanny's salary will not change when a parent starts using vouchers, nor will the amount of tax and NI paid on her behalf.

However, the parent will be able to save money on their own tax and NI payments, in some cases as much as £2,000 per family per year. Childcare vouchers can only be used to pay for childcare.

To be able to use childcare vouchers a parent needs to be employed and their employer needs to set up a childcare voucher scheme. Your employer has to run the scheme and currently most big employers do, if not then get your employer to do so as they can also save up to 12.8% of the value of the vouchers issued ( employers NI ). Ask your employer to contact www.employersforchildcare.org and they can set up the scheme for them.If the parent is a company director they can also take advantage of vouchers, providing vouchers are made available to all of their staff as well. Self employed persons are not able to benefit from childcare vouchers.

There are two types of childcare vouchers available: paper vouchers and electronic vouchers and the mechanics of the two are slightly different, with less paperwork involved with electronic vouchers.

The vouchers are issued directly to the nanny from the parent. In the case of paper vouchers, these will be received either in the post or issued by their employer. If electronic vouchers are used the value of these will be deposited into a 'virtual' account which is held with the voucher provider.

Nanny, Mother's Help or Au pair must be registered with Ofsted. The vouchers cover childcare up to the age of fifteen, and they can be used by an au pair, mothers help or nanny that is registered with:

Ofsted (England)-Childcare Register (England).

Local Health and Social Services Trusts (Northern Ireland).

The Care Commission (Scotland).

Childcare Appoval Scheme (Wales).

For the Au pair, Mother´s Help or Nanny to be approved for the scheme by the above bodies shewould typically need some childcare experience and to have paediatric first aid, this organization www.safeandsound.uk.net can arrange the training. For more information please go to hmrc.gov.uk/childcare.

If the nanny is not already registered with a childcare voucher company a welcome pack will be sent to the parent with a registration form for their nanny to fill in. Under the new Ofsted register, their nanny is required to provide the voucher company with a copy of her registration number when she registers.

If paper vouchers have already been issued these need to be included when nanny sends in the registration form.

Once the voucher company has received the registration form they will issue the nanny with a unique service provider number. If electronic vouchers are used the parent needs to authorize the transfer of the value of the vouchers from their virtual account into one that has been set up for nanny. Once the childcare voucher provider has received confirmation of transfer they will issue payment to the value of the vouchers.

Nanny has the option of being paid either by BACS or by cheque. It will take approximately three days for the BACS payment to clear into her bank account. One of the main concerns raised by nannies is whether childcare vouchers will mean that her salary will be late. Initially there will be a slight delay, but once the account is up and running, it should operate smoothly, and not cause any further delays. The parent may wish to consider moving nanny's payday to offset any possible delays.

Mother's Helps and National Insurance contributions

02/10/2012 17:05:00

The amount and type of National Insurance contributions you pay depend on whether you're employed or self-employed and how much you earn. The rates shown below are for the 2011-12 tax year.

IF YOU ARE EMPLOYED

If you're employed you pay Class 1 National Insurance contributions. The rates are:

if you earn more than £139 a week and up to £817 a week, you pay 12 per cent of the amount you earn between £139 and £817
if you earn more than £817 a week, you also pay 2 per cent of all your earnings over £817

You pay a lower rate if you're a member of your employer's contracted-out pension scheme.Your contributions are deducted from your wages by your employer

PRIMARY (EMPLOYEE) CONTRIBUTION IS NOW ASSESED

Bellow £102 - Nil National Insurance Contribution

Between £102-£139 - 0%

Between £139-£817- 12%

Above £817 - 2%

You can find more information on http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/ni/intro/basics.htm

Registering as an Employer when hiring a Mother's Help

02/10/2012 16:31:00

WHEN YOU NEED TO REGISTER

You don't necessarily need to register as an employer once you take someone on. Check first that at least one of the following conditions applies to you. If any apply, then you need to register:

the employee already has another job
they are receiving a state or occupational pension
you're paying them at or above the PAYE threshold (http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/paye/rates-thresholds.htm)
you're paying them at or above the National Insurance Lower Earnings Limit (http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/paye/rates-thresholds.htm)
you're providing them with employee benefits

If you need to register you can do so up to four weeks in advance of your first pay day.

Bear in mind that you might need to register as an employer even if you're the only person working in your business. If you run a one-person limited company, you'll be both an employer and an employee. So if any of the conditions above apply to you as an employee you'll need to register.

HOW TO REGISTER

Most employers can register with HMRC by telephone or internet.

Registering by telephone or email

In most cases the easiest way to register as an employer is to use HMRC's website registration tool to generate an email giving HMRC all the information they need from you.

However, this tool won't work if your business is in one of the following three categories, in which case you'll have to register by telephone instead:

a simplified PAYE scheme with more than ten employees
a limited company with more than nine directors
a partnership with more than ten partners

To register by telephone, contact HMRC's New Employer Helpline.

YOUR NEXT STEPS AFTER REGISTERING

Once you have registered as a new employer with HMRC, you will receive a letter containing your Employer PAYE reference with a link to the appropriate guidance where everything you need to get started can be accessed.

You'll need to familiarise yourself with what's involved in operating PAYE, and to understand which forms and returns you are required to file online (see the section below).

You'll find all the guidance you need in the 'PAYE for employers' area of this website - including links to relevant forms and time-saving calculators.

You'll also need to choose which sort of payroll system you want to use. One option is to use HMRC's free downloadable Basic PAYE Tools package. This contains a number of interactive PAYE forms and tools, including the P11 Calculator, which allows you to set up and manage your payroll records electronically.

Smaller employers can also use the P11 Calculator to file their in-year starter and leaver forms online when an employee starts with or leaves their business and also to file their Employer Annual Return (P35 and P14s) online at the end of the tax year.

REGISTER FOR PAYE ONLINE FOR EMPLOYERS

One of your responsibilities as an employer will be to send PAYE forms to HMRC at various stages - such as when an employee joins or leaves your business, or at the end of the tax year when you're required to submit an Employer Annual Return (P35 and P14s).

Filing online is a fast, secure and convenient way of sending your forms to HMRC, and almost all employers are required to file their starter and leaver information and their Employer Annual Return online. To file online you must first register with HMRC's 'PAYE Online for employers' service. You can register for PAYE Online as soon as you've registered as an employer.

You can find more information on http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/paye/intro/register.htm

How to interview Aupairs

01/23/2012 13:58:00

How to interview Aupairs ?? I am sure that everybody has their own technique but what is the most important is that you like the person that you want to employ as they are going to not only work for you but also live in your home. I always say that it's important that the Aupairs is smiley, friendly and keen to work for you, that's always a good start.

When you phone your Aupair first time, you need to assess what is the actual level of their English. Please speak slowly and clearly, and to start with ask only very basic and simple questions

How old are you?
How many years have you studied English for?
Do you smoke?
Do you swim?
Can you drive a car ? How often do you drive? What car do you drive?
Do you have any brothers or sisters?
What is your parent's occupation?
Do you have any pets?
Do you have any allergies?
What are your hobbies?
How long can you stay in England?
When can you come to England?
Do you want to go to language school in England?

For the first few minutes, ask the Aupair questions to get them talking, then add information and questions about the children, family, area, duties, responsibilities etc. I always recommend that if you tell the Aupair something, its good to ask a question about it, i.e. my children like swimming, do you swim as well ? do you like swimming ? or i.e. I need you to cook for the children, are you happy to cook for the children?what can you cook ?? how often do you cook ? or i.e. I need you to drive the children to school, how often do you drive in your country? are you happy to drive in England ? or i.e. I need you to help me with housework as well, are you ok to hoover, mop the kitchen floor and tidy up the children's bedrooms every morning? who does the housework in your home? or i.e. we live in a village, and it takes 15 mins on the buss to get to a town, are you happy to live in a quiet village? are you ok to take a buss to a town?

This will not only outline what is expected from the Aupair but also gives you more information about the Aupair, their abilities, and experience.

The other questions could be:

What childcare experience do you have? if the Aupair mentions particular experience, please ask her more questions about it, i.e. how old were the children, what activities she did with them, how often she looked after them, etc.
What do you do in your free time ?
What do you want to when you complete your Aupair stay?
Do you have a boyfriend or girlfriend?? if the answer is yes, please question it further to find out how likely it is that the Aupair might complete her stay earlier.
When do you want to go home for holiday and how long for? This is a good time to mention when you would like the Aupair to take her holidays and how long for.
Why do you want to be an Aupair?

We always recommend to interview the Aupair on the phone first and then carry out a second interview via Skype to get to know the Aupair as much as possible, before accepting her.

I hope that our guide has been helpful.

Interviewing Aupairs

01/20/2012 11:59:00

Many many years ago, before the internet and emails, families could only interview Aupairs on the phone. However these days the interviewing Aupairs is much easier as you can not only interview them on the phone but also via skype where you can see the Aupair whilst speaking to her. Emails also allow families to send Aupairs more information about the duties, responsibilities, free time, in writing, so the Aupair can read all information in their own time. We encourage all our families to send the Aupairs as much information as possible, and interview them not only on the phone but also via Skype. Families with older children also ask their children to speak to the Aupair so they can get to know each other before coming to the UK.

In the past couple of years the success rate of the Aupair placements has increased rapidly and this is only due to the fact that families can get to know the Aupairs more before accepting them.

You can download Skype for free on http://www.skype.com/intl/en-gb/get-skype/. Please note that you can download Skype to your mobile, or TV as well.

Are Aupairs employees??

08/07/2011 21:43:00

According to Wikipedia (not the most reliable source)

the concept of the Aupair originated in Europe after World War II. Before the war, an abundant supply of domestic servants had been available to look after the children of middle and upper class families, but changes in social attitudes, and increases in wages and taxes after the war, made the old system inaccessible to most middle class parents. At the same time, social change increased the number of middle class girls who needed to earn their own living, and rising educational aspirations for girls made experiencing foreign cultures and learning foreign languages more common aspirations. However, due to the stigma attached to being a "servant", an essentially working class status which even working class people were repudiating, this potential supply for domestic labour could only be utilised if a new non-servant role was created. Thus the Aupair, who was supposed to be treated as a member of the family rather than a servant, and was not required to wear a uniform.

Until 26th November 2008 Aupair programs were guided by the Home Office (please see http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/workingintheuk/tier5/aupairs).

From that day there are no longer guidelines as to the Aupair program, their free time, allowed working hours, pocket money etc. Instead they introduced Youth Mobility Scheme which allowes young people from certain Non EU countrysides to come and experience life in the UK. The countries participating in this scheme are Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zeland and Monaco. However there are certain requirements that must be satisfied (please see http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/workingintheuk/tier5/youthmobilityscheme/eligibility/whocanapply). Requirements such as being a national of the country participating in the program, have £1, 600 in available maintenance, etc.

There are organisation which try to regulate the Aupair programs such as the British Aupair Agencies Association (please see http://www.bapaa.org.uk/displaypage.asp?page=1) or the International Aupair Association (please see http://www.iapa.org/portal/page/portal/MenuSecSiteIAPA).

Are Aupairs now considered as Employees?? Before the November 2008 Aupairs were not classed as employees, so the host family did not have to NI, Tax and Aupairs were not subject to employment laws. The concept of Aupair exists for over 60 years, and so far the government has not established whether Aupairs are employees or not.

If the Government decides that Aupairs are employees and subject to employment laws, not much is going to change in the Aupair program.

Why??

Firstly, as Aupairs are members of the employer’s family, live in their home and help run a family business or help with household chores, they are not entitled to the National Minimum Wage.

If Aupair is not a member of the employer’s family but live in their home and share in the household’s work and leisure activities, Aupair is not entitled to the National Minimum Wage (please see

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Employment/Employees/TheNationalMinimumWage/DG_175114)

To finalise it all, even though it is one day decided that Aupairs are employees and subject to employment laws in the UK, not much is going to change.

Secondly, Aupairs weekly pocket money varies from £70-100 a week and as the tax free allowance for 2011-2012 is £7, 475, Aupairs and their employer/host family will not have to pay any tax as the Aupair's pay is very low and within the tax free allowance (please see http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/incometax/basics.htm#2).

Thirdly, Aupairs and their employer/host family will have to pay National Insurance if Aupair earns more than £139 a week. As Aupairs are normally earning between £70-100 a week, the host family will not have to pay their National Insurance (please see

http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/ni/intro/basics.htm#1).

To finalise it all, If the Government decides that Aupairs are employees and subject to employment laws, not much is going to change for the host family and their Aupairs.

Summer Aupairs From Weplaceaupairs

08/04/2011 15:49:00

Normally during the school year Aupairs apply for 8-12 months stay but during the summer season we also place summer Aupairs. Summer Aupairs are short term Aupairs who are willing to stay from 4-12 weeks. The advantage of having a summer Aupair is that they can work full time, so you do not have to take any time off from work when the children have their summer holidays. Aupairs will look after the children, play games with them, take them to the park, swimming, cinema, supervise them at home, cooking for them, and some housework as well. Aupairs are expected to help out with daily chores such as hoovering, laundry, washing, loading/unloading dishwasher, keeping the children's bedroom tidy, mop the kitchen floor, clean the bathroom etc. Please keep in mind that Aupair's pocket money has to be paid in accordance with the working hours. Minimum pocket money that an Aupair normally receives is £70 a week for 25 hours a week, £80 a week for 30 hours, or £90-100 a week for 35 hours, £120 a week for 40 hours, or £150 a week for 50 hours. The agency fee for a summer Aupair is £135 and please do keep in mind that if you are unhappy with the summer Aupair, we can offer a replacement free of charge.

Aupairs, timetable and duty list

03/31/2011 14:24:00

Sometimes families do not realize the importance of giving the Aupair a written timetable which will also include a duty list. Most of the Aupairs never lived away from home or only lived with friends so there probably was not a time in their life when they were expected to follow a housework or childcare routine. All the Aupairs have done some housework in their life, some more than others but this is probably a first time in their life when they are getting paid for looking after the house. This is why we are highlighting the importance of a written timetable. Every family is very different so an Aupair could be coming from an environment where she only had to do some very light housework such as loading/unloading dishwasher, hoovering, rather than being in charge of cleaning the house. On the other hand you might end up having a girl who is use to cleaning the whole house at home but she will still be uncertain as to what you expect from her.

When Aupair arrives in your home, she will be very shy and will definitely not be confident enough to take over the household duties automatically when she starts working for you (normally they start working 3rd day after their arrival in the UK). She probably will not be sure how your hoover works, or dishwasher, washing machine, and she might be also worried about breaking it. This is when the timetable which includes the duty list is so helpful. Your Aupair Agency should email you a copy or an example of such timetable. Our Aupair Agency emails a template of such timetable which host families can change according their needs. Aupair can translate it in their own time so all you have to do is show them how the household appliances work, what cleaning product is use for each task and spend the 1-2 days working alongside your Aupair. We all make mistakes so please be patient with your Aupair the first two weeks. Communication is very important so if she makes any mistakes please do tell her and if she forgets to carry out any task, please highlight it in her timetable/work schedule.

After 2 weeks Aupair should be able to carry out all the domestic tasks according to the timetable and duty list.

Please note that Aupairs are not Cleaners so they are mainly here to help you out with children and some housework such as hoovering, dusting, tidying up, mopping the kitchen floor, loading/unloading dishwasher, washing, ironing for children, etc. I would not ask the Aupair to start cleaning windows, or cars, doing gardening.

What to expect from your Aupair first two weeks??

03/17/2011 13:39:00

Most of the Aupair Agencies state that Aupairs are not Nannies or Housekeepers. Aupairs have some childcare experience, some more than others, but they will rely on your guidance the first two weeks. Every child is very unique so any tips on how to handle your children will be very welcome by the Aupair. If the Aupair is little bit shy the first couple of days, please encourage them by talking to them and asking them questions. This will give them confidence to talk and not to worry about the mistakes they might make. They might be shy around the children the first day or so, so please encourage them, show them the children's bedrooms, their favourite books, and suggest some games and activities so the children can get to know them better.

All Aupairs are expected to help with household chores but please do show them how would you like to have things done. Clear list of duties that needs to be done every day and when, it's great and it will guarantee that all the tasks are carried out. If the Aupairs forgets to do something please do tell her and highlight it in her duty list so this does not happen again.

Aupairs will certainly need your guidance the first 1-2 weeks, normally this is their first time in the UK and everything is new to them, the language, area, etc. so please be patient with them.