Students: Tax, NICs, the national minimum wage

You can get the national minimum wage if you are 16 or over and resident in the UK. It's the least that your employer can pay you.

Rates payable

There are different levels of national minimum wage, depending on your age and whether you are an apprentice. The rates that apply from 1 October 2010 are as follows:

• £5.93 - the main rate for workers aged 21 and over
• £4.92 - the 18-20 rate
• £2.50 – the apprentice rate, for apprentices under 19 or 19 or over and in the first year of their apprenticeship

For 16 and 17 years old the rate is £3.64 an hour but you have to be over the compulsory school age and not involved in any apprenticeship or pre-apprenticeship schemes. If you are of compulsory school age you are not entitled to the national minimum wage.

For further information you can go to the national minimum wage website or call the Pay & Work Rights Helpline on Tel 0800 917 2368. The lines are open 8.00am to 8.00pm, Monday to Friday and 9.00 am to 1.00 pm Saturday.

You should call the Pay & Work Rights Helpline if your employer is not paying you the national minimum wage. All calls to the Pay & Work Rights Helpline will be treated as confidential. You do not even have to give your name.