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Your household income and student loan 

You must provide your household income if you apply for any of the following: 

  • Full Maintenance Loan 
  • Childcare Grant
  • Adult Dependants’ Grant 
  • Parents’ Learning Allowance 
  • If your household income changes  

When you apply for your Student Finance you will be asked to provide your household income for the previous tax year. 

Once you have applied, Student Finance England will ask the people in your household to confirm their income. They might need to provide evidence. 

 

What counts as household income? 

Household income always includes income you get from your own: 

  • savings 
  • investments
  • or property (for example, dividends or rent) 

It may also include your parents or partner’s income. This depends on your individual circumstances. 

If you are under 25, and financially dependent on at least 1 parent, your household income includes:

  • your parents’ income, if you live with them or depend on them financially 
  • the combined income of 1 of your parents and their partner, if you live with them or depend on them financially 

If you are under 25, and are not financially dependent on your parents, your household income does not include your parents’ income if: 

  • you have supported yourself financially for at least 3 years 
  • you have been married or in a civil partnership at any time before the start of your course 
  • you spent at least 13 weeks in the care of your local authority before you turned 16. In this case, you might be able to apply as a care leaver 
  • you have had no contact with your parents for over a year. In this case, you might be able to apply as an ‘estranged student’ 

Your household income will not include your parents income if you are over 25, as you will be classed as an ‘independent student’. 

Your household income will include your partner’s income, if you live with them (even if they spend most of their time abroad). 

 

If your household income changes you, your parents or partner must: 

  • correct any mistakes relating to their household income - they can use form PFF2 
  • tell Student Finance England if they think that their household income will be at least 15% lower than the tax year they submitted details for. This means we would assess you for funding based on an estimated income for tax year 2025 - 26.  

For further information about completing a current year income assessment, please contact the Funding Advice team by submitting a case through the Student Hub online portal or attending one of the Funding Advice drop-ins.