Financial
issues
Payments
As soon as you accept a locum booking, we will send you a timesheet.
This must be correctly filled in every week with the exact number
of hours that you have worked. The Consultant or Supervisor that you
are working for must sign this before you send it to us. Locum doctors
are paid on an hourly rate.
United Medicare usually
pays electronically by BACS (Bank Automated Credit System) straight
into your UK bank account every week that you work. You must ensure
that we have your bank details before you commence the booking. We
can also arrange payment by cheque if that is what you prefer.
Bank accounts
It has become much harder in recent years to open a UK bank account
if you are a foreign national. United Medicare can assist you in opening
a bank account with any UK clearing bank. We can organise a letter
that will state that you will be working in the UK as a locum. This
should enable you to open a UK bank account.
Tax & National Insurance for the UK
As a new locum coming to work in the United Kingdom, you will be expected
to pay Income Tax and National Insurance (N.I). You will be experiencing
a completely new tax system, which may be similar to that of your
own country but will also have fundamental differences.
All employees are taxed under the Pay As You Earn (PAYE) scheme where
you will have National Insurance and income tax deducted directly
from your salary.
Tax
Every year you will be allocated a tax allowance, which you are allowed
to earn before you pay UK income tax. This will be calculated by the
income tax office. There are currently three bands of taxable income.
Your income tax deductions are paid to the Inland Revenue and are
calculated with reference to your National Insurance number.
National Insurance
As a new employee you will be required to apply to your local Department
of Social Security (DSS) for a National Insurance (NI) Number. Every
NI number is unique to one person and is very much like a national
identity Number, which is used in many countries. To apply to the
DSS Office, you must have identification including:
- PassportWork permit & right to abode (if applicable)
- Home address with proof of place of residence
- Proof of employment (such as a payslip/letter of employment)
After you have applied, you will be notified of what happens next.
The DSS will allocate you a NINO, which will take approximately 12
weeks to complete. Your N.I number will be given to you in the form
of two letters, six numbers and a final letter (A-D). A valid NINO
will not affect how much National Insurance you will pay but it will
allow you to receive the benefit of those payments against your N.I
payment record.
If you want to know more about these issues, please look at the Inland
Revenue’s website: www.inlandrevenue.gov.uk
Renting
If you are looking to rent private accommodation, United Medicare
will be happy to write you a letter confirming your employment status
with us which will help you secure tenancy.
Accountant
We can provide details of an accountant who deals exclusively with
doctors in the UK. The accountant can offer advice on all financial
issues including doctors interested in working on a self-employed
status and administering a limited company.
Additional Financial Services
It can be difficult when you are a temporary worker to obtain a mortgage
so we can put you in touch with an independent firm of mortgage brokers
who will be able to assist you with the following additional financial
services:Mortgages
- Loans
- Risk Management/Life Assurance
- Investments
- Specialist mortgages for overseas professionals.
