Household income
The funding you can get depends on how much your income is. It also depends on the income of your parents or your husband, wife, civil partner or partner.
Your household income doesn't affect applications for:
- Disabled Students' Allowance
- tuition fees in Scotland
- part of the student loan
The amount of funding you can get is based on the total income for the household where you live. This is before:
- tax
- National Insurance
- other deductions
You'll need to provide proof of your household income when you apply for student funding. You may be asked to supply other supporting documents depending on your circumstances.
Gathering information and evidence for your funding application may take some time.
Find out what supporting documents you need to send if you're a:
If your household income is £34,000 a year or more
You'll only be able to get a loan of up to £8,400 if your household income is more than £34,000 a year.
You won't need to fill in the household income section of your SAAS funding application.
If your household income is £33,999 a year or less
You can apply for more than the minimum amount of student loan as well as bursaries and grants.
You'll need to fill in the household income section of your SAAS funding application.
Young students – what you can get
| Household income | Young Students' Bursary | Student Loan | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| £0 to £20,999 | £2,000 | £9,400 | £11,400 |
| £21,000 to £23,999 | £1,125 | £9,400 | £10,525 |
| £24,000 to £33,999 | £500 | £9,400 | £9,900 |
| £34,000 and above | £0 | £8,400 | £8,400 |
Independent students – what you can get
| Household income | Independent Students' Bursary | Student Loan | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| £0 to £20,999 | £1,000 | £10,400 | £11,400 |
| £21,000 to £23,999 | £0 | £10,400 | £10,400 |
| £24,000 to £33,999 | £0 | £9,900 | £9,900 |
| £34,000 and above | £0 | £8,400 | £8,400 |
From the 2024 to 2025 academic year, the amount of loan you're entitled to includes a Special Support Loan of £2,400.
What counts as household income
SAAS will look at household income from the following tax years:
| Academic year | Tax year SAAS assesses |
|---|---|
| 2024 to 2025 | Tax year 2022 to 2023 |
| 2023 to 2024 | Tax year 2021 to 2022 |
Income from parents, husband, wife, civil partner or partner
When SAAS looks at the income of the other people in your household, they'll look at 'earned' income and 'unearned' income.
'Earned' income can be from:
- employment
- self-employment
- unemployment
'Unearned' income can be from:
- property
- pensions
- trusts
- some state benefits
- interest from bonds, investments, bank or building society or any other savings accounts
- dividends
- maintenance payments
- any other income
Contact SAAS if you're not sure what counts as 'other income'.
Find out what proof of household income your parent or partner needs to give you.
Your income
SAAS won't count your 'earned' income – money you earn through employment or self-employment.
| What SAAS will count | What SAAS won't count |
|---|---|
| Property | Money you earn from employment (eg a part-time job) |
| Pensions | Some state benefits |
| Trusts | Scholarships or sponsorships |
| Interest from bonds, investments, bank or building society or any other savings accounts | Educational endowments from charities |
| Dividends | Money from university 'hardship funds' (this only applies if you're a continuing student) |
| Maintenance payments you get from an absent parent, husband, wife, civil partner or partner | |
| Any other income (contact SAAS if you're not sure what counts as 'other income') | |
| Find out what proof of household income your parent or partner needs to supply. |
If your household income is likely to drop during the year
SAAS may be able to assess your award again if your household income drops during the year.
If the drop is likely to take the household income into a lower income bracket, you may be able to have your household income for the current tax year assessed (instead of the previous tax year).
You'll need to give an estimate of your household income. Contact SAAS to find out what documents you need.
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