Akademik

lower earnings limit

Set each tax year by the government, the amount below which an employee is not liable to make class one, primary national insurance contributions (NICs). In the tax year 2007/2008, the LEL is set at £87 each week. See also primary threshold and upper earnings limit (UEL).

England, Wales

Set each tax year by the government, the amount of earnings which allow an employee to qualify for certain state benefits (such as qualifying years for the basic state pension). But even if an employee earns more than the LEL, he or she is not required to pay primary, class one national insurance contributions until his or her earnings reach the primary threshold. In the tax year 2010/11, the LEL is set at £97 a week.