ECH3518 - ECUM Duties: NIC Decisions and Protective Claims

The ECUM should assume responsibility within the Area for the control and issue of all

  • NICs Decisions under
  • Section 8 of the Social Security (Transfer of Functions) Act 1999, in England and Wales or
  • Article 7 OF THE Social Security Contributions (Transfer of Functions etc.) (Northern Ireland) Order 1999
  • Protective Claims
  • The ECUM should ensure that there are adequate controls in place to ensure that NICs debts are protected before becoming time barred due to the Limitations Act 1980.
  • A request for a Protective Claim must be made no later than 2 months before the date on which the earliest identified NICs debt will become time barred. ( ECH22131)
  • Where the time barred deadline is imminent the referral stencil should be prominently noted in red ink “Protect by (insert time barred date).
  • The ECUM should maintain an Establishment File of all NICs Decisions and Protective Claims. The Establishment File must record
  • The employer’s name and reference number
  • The year(s) to which the debt relates
  • The amount of NICs due per year
  • The month and year in which the payment giving rise to the NICs debt was made
  • The date(s) the NICs Decision(s) was (were) made (if any)
  • The date(s) the NICs Decision(s) was (were) appealed (if any)
  • The date(s) the NICs Decision(s) was (were) paid (if any)
  • The date(s) the debt was referred for Protective Claim action (if any)