NIM07084 - Class 1 NICs: Payments made under employment legislation - Insolvency of employer - Payments made out of the National Insurance Fund - What is and is not earnings for NICs purposes

As explained in NIM07082, the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry can make certain specified payments out of the National Insurance Fund. But not all of those payments are earnings within the definition in section 3(1) of the Social Security Contributions and Benefits Act 1992.

In order to decide whether a certain payment should or should not be included in the gross amount of earnings, it is necessary to establish precisely what payments are being made.The following table shows what payments are liable to NICs and which ones are not.

TYPE OF PAYMENT LIABLE FOR NICs? GUIDANCE
Arrears of pay including: Yes NIM02010
guarantee payment Yes NIM07006
time off payments Yes NIM07082
medical suspension payment Yes NIM07011
maternity suspension payment Yes NIM07016
protective award Yes NIM07052
Payment in lieu of notice or for failure to give such notice Yes NIM02520
Holiday pay Yes NIM02200
Basic award of compensation for unfair dismissal No NIM02510 for general guidance on compensation
Reimbursement of the whole or part of any fee paid by an apprentice or articled clerk No NIM05020

See NIM02010 for general information about the meaning of “earnings”.