Dear Meg Hillier, My name is Vasile Tipa and I'm a Romanian national working in UK as self employed person.

I have applied for NI number and my application was declined based on you have not provided sufficient reasons to accept your need for NI number". I have called DWP and asked why my application was declined and they told me over the phone because my employer does not have a landline number. I find that is NOT a reason to decline an application as I work as a painter and the site I work and my employer ( who is also a privat person) does not have a land line and can not have a landline when you work un scaffold. I believe these policies of DWP to decline a NI number for this reasons are wrong, and I can not ask my customers to have a landline or to stay at home and watch for calls from DWP. I can not work for a big company who has an office as every company require NI number, UTR, CSCS card, but I can not get it because I do not have a NI number. As a matter of fact my accountant was called to verify that I'm a self employed and he did confirm that I'm self employed builder. At this time I do not know what to do every company is asking for NINO and UTR. All I want is to be able to work as self employed person and be able to provide support for me and my family. Please help me get the legal status to work here in UK. Thank you Yours sincerely, Vasile Tipa