Student Finance England (SFE) works out your Maintenance Loan from your household income, but it looks at the income from an earlier tax year. For mature students that can cause problems. If you or your partner earned well two years ago but have since cut your hours, been made redundant, become self-employed or stopped working to care for someone, the assessment can show a much higher income than you have now. A current year income (CYI) assessment is how you ask SFE to use this year’s figures instead.
This guide explains which tax year SFE uses for 2026/27, when a CYI assessment is possible, what counts as household income for students over 25, and how the process works. Figures and rules link to GOV.UK and Student Loans Company (SLC) guidance. For the basics, start with our student finance hub and household income explained.
General information for UK home students in England, based on GOV.UK and SLC guidance checked on 7 October 2026. Rules and thresholds change each year. AF Education is not Student Finance England; your SFE assessment decides what you receive.
Important: AF Education gives free help to England-resident UK home students applying for funded degree courses. This service is not for international students.
Quick answer
For the 2026 to 2027 academic year, SFE assesses household income for the 2024 to 2025 tax year (GOV.UK: household income). If your household income has gone down by at least 15% since then, you can apply for a current year income assessment. You must still give details of the year SFE asked about (GOV.UK: support your child or partner’s application).
Why household income matters
Most eligible full-time students can get at least the minimum Maintenance Loan. To get more, you have to give your household income. GOV.UK says you must provide it if you apply for a full Maintenance Loan, a Childcare Grant, an Adult Dependants’ Grant or a Parents’ Learning Allowance (GOV.UK: household income).
For 2026/27, the Maintenance Loan for a new full-time student is:
| Where you live while studying | Maximum (2026/27) | Minimum (2026/27) |
|---|---|---|
| With your parents | £9,118 | £4,013 |
| Away from parents, outside London | £10,830 | £5,048 |
| Away from parents, in London | £14,135 | £7,039 |
Sources: GOV.UK: new full-time students (maximums) and GOV.UK: support with living and other costs 2026 to 2027 (minimums). Household income of £25,000 or less gets the maximum. Above that, the loan tapers down to the minimum at £58,387 (living with parents), £62,410 (outside London) or £70,131 (London). Because so much depends on the income figure, an out-of-date figure can cost you thousands. See how much Maintenance Loan will I get?
Whose income counts if you are a mature student?
GOV.UK sets out the rules (GOV.UK: household income):
- Over 25: you are an ‘independent student’, so your parents’ income is not included. Your partner’s income is included if you live with them, even if they spend most of their time abroad.
- Under 25: your parents’ income is not included if, for example, you have supported yourself for at least 3 years or have been married or in a civil partnership before the course starts.
- Always included: income from your own savings, investments or property, such as dividends or rent.
If you are over 25 and single, your household is usually just you. If you live with a partner, their income usually matters most, and that is where a current year income assessment often helps.
When can you ask for a current year income assessment?
The main test is a drop of at least 15%. For a 2026/27 application, you compare expected household income for the current tax year (2026 to 2027) with the 2024 to 2025 figure SFE has asked for. SLC guidance shows the rule applies again in later years: if income drops by 15% or more again, a new form can be sent (SLC: current year income finalisation guidance).
SLC also publishes income limits for each year. For example, in its guidance for the 2025 to 2026 academic year it says household income had to be under a set limit as well as at least 15% lower, and if income in the base year was £25,000 or less the student may already get the full amount (SLC: current year income assessment for a previous tax year). Check the limits for your own academic year before you apply.
Common situations for mature students:
- your partner was made redundant, retired or cut their hours
- your partner’s self-employed profits have fallen
- you have given up rental or investment income
- your partner has stopped work to care for children or a relative
How the process works
- Apply for student finance and share household income. After you apply, your partner gets an email from SFE within 3 hours. They need their own account and their National Insurance number, and SFE gets their income for the earlier tax year from HMRC (GOV.UK).
- Send the CYI form. Download the current tax year income assessment form for 2026 to 2027 from GOV.UK. Fill in your estimated income for the 2026 to 2027 tax year and upload it to your online account (SLC guidance).
- Get paid on the estimate. SFE recalculates your entitlement using the estimate. If your partner’s information is still being processed when your course starts, GOV.UK says you will still get the Tuition Fee Loan and the basic Maintenance Loan if eligible.
- Finalise after the tax year ends. SLC asks for evidence of actual income, such as a P60, or a March payslip showing year-to-date figures. If you are self-assessed and have not filed your tax return yet, you can delay finalisation (SLC guidance).
Be realistic with the estimate. The award is checked against actual income at the end of the tax year. If the real figure is higher than your estimate, your entitlement can be reassessed and you may have been overpaid. Keep payslips and accounts as you go.
January 2027 starts and the LLE
Most courses starting on or after 1 January 2027 will be funded through the Lifelong Learning Entitlement (LLE). GOV.UK says partners supporting an LLE application cannot sign in until the end of October 2026, when LLE applications open (GOV.UK). If you are looking at a January start, read our Lifelong Learning Entitlement guide and January intake student finance guide.
Courses where the Maintenance Loan applies
A higher Maintenance Loan only helps if your course qualifies for one. Full-time campus degrees do. Distance learners usually cannot get a Maintenance Loan unless a disability prevents them attending in person. Many AF Education students choose courses with 1 to 2 campus days a week, usually about 2 to 4 hours a day, so they can keep working. Examples include BA (Hons) Business Management in London at The University of Sunderland and Business and Management BSc (Hons) in Bradford via University of Bradford International College. Browse all partner universities or see university for mature students.
Frequently asked questions
Which tax year does student finance use for 2026/27?
The 2024 to 2025 tax year, according to GOV.UK. For 2025/26 applications it was 2023 to 2024.
How much must income drop for a current year income assessment?
At least 15% compared with the tax year SFE asked about. SLC also sets income limits for each academic year, so check the current guidance.
Does my partner’s income count if I am over 25?
Yes, if you live with them. Your parents’ income does not count once you are over 25.
What if my partner will not share their income?
GOV.UK says that if household income details are not shared, the student only gets the minimum amount of student finance.
What evidence is needed at the end of the tax year?
SLC asks for financial evidence for the tax year, such as a P60. If you do not have it, a March payslip showing year-to-date totals can be accepted. Self-assessed people can delay finalisation until their tax return is filed.
Next steps
If your household earns much less now than it did in 2024/25, do not accept a lower Maintenance Loan without checking. Apply, share household income, and send a current year income form if the 15% drop applies to you.
Prefer to talk? Call AF Education on 020 7377 8844, email info@afeducation.co.uk or visit us at 47 Cavell Street, London E1 2BP (Monday to Friday, 10:00 to 18:00). Our help is free for UK home students.
