Support your child or partner's student finance application
If your income has gone down
If your income has gone down since the year you gave details for, you may be able to provide details for the current tax year instead. This is called a current year income assessment.
To apply for a current year income assessment, you must have already created a student finance account and given information about a previous tax year.
Check you’re eligible for a current year income assessment
You will qualify for a current year income assessment for 2026 to 2027 if your expected household income is both:
- at least 15% lower for the full current tax year compared to the year you gave details for
- £58,387 or less for the full current tax year
The current tax year is 6 April 2026 to 5 April 2027.
You will have given details for 6 April 2024 to 5 April 2025.
Your child or partner must be on a course where their student finance is based on your household income.
If your household income is £58,387 or more a year but less than £70,131 a year, you may still qualify depending on your child or partner’s circumstances.
If your income was £25,000 or less
If your income was £25,000 or less for the year you gave details for, your child or partner may be receiving the full amount they’re entitled to. You might still be able to apply for an assessment if your child or partner needs it to get:
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a bursary or scholarship from a university or college
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extra student finance for children or dependent adults
If your child or partner starts their course before 1 January 2027
If your child or partner starts their course before 1 January 2027, you need to complete the following three steps.
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Fill in a current year income assessment form and send it to Student Finance England (SFE).
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Keep your income details up to date during the year.
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Confirm your actual income at the end of the tax year.
Current year income assessment for the 2026 to 2027 academic year
Fill in the current tax year income assessment form for 2026 to 2027 and send it to SFE. You can send it through your online account or print out the form and send it by post to:
Student Finance England
PO Box 210
Darlington
DL1 9HJ
If you’re the parent of the student and your partner also lives in the household, you’ll both need to complete the form, even if only one income has changed.
This is because you’re assessed on household income from the same tax year.
When you’re estimating your income, include:
- working overtime or extra hours
- any maternity or paternity pay
- any casual, shift or contract work
- any pay rises, bonuses or redundancy pay
- income changes from changing jobs or returning to work
- income from self-employment
Current year income assessment for the 2025 to 2026 academic year
You can still apply for a current year income assessment for the 2025 to 2026 academic year. You’ll need to prove your income from the previous tax year was at least 15% lower than the year you gave details for. Check if you’re eligible and how to apply.
Keep your income details up to date
If your income changes during the year, fill in a new current tax year income assessment form for 2026 to 2027. Then send it to SFE as soon as possible.
You’ll be reassessed and the amount of money your child or partner is entitled to might go up or down. SFE will contact them directly to let them know.
If you do not keep your income details up to date your child or partner may be overpaid. They’ll have to pay back any overpayment straight away.
Confirm your income at the end of the tax year
After the tax year finishes you must send evidence of what your actual income was for the year. You’ll usually be sent a form to fill in at the start of May.
If you’re self-employed
If you have not completed your tax return yet, fill in the form to ask to delay providing evidence until after the Self Assessment deadline in January the following year.
You still need to return evidence for any other employment, for example if you had a salaried job earlier in the year.
If your household income is different from what you estimated
How much your child or partner is entitled to will change. If your actual income was:
- lower - they might be entitled to more money
- higher - they will have to repay any extra money they received
If you do not send in evidence you child or partner will only be entitled to basic student finance. They’ll have to repay any extra money they got based on your income straight away.
If your child or partner starts their course on or after 1 January 2027
If your child or partner starts their course on or after 1 January 2027, you can apply for a current year income assessment from September 2026. You’ll need to have already provided details of your income for the most recent complete tax year.