Get a reassessment of your student finance

How to request a reassessment of your student finance so the amount of funding/ loans you receive reflects your current financial situation.

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If you urgently need financial help

Becoming estranged from your parents while you’re already at university can be a difficult and stressful experience.

If you are struggling while waiting for reassessment, contact us (the Money Advice and Funding team) so we can help you.

This guidance applies to

This page's guidance applies to students who:

  • pay home (UK) fees
    and
  • are newly estranged

How being estranged impacts your student finance

If you become estranged from your parents, you may be assessed as an independent student, meaning your loan is based on your own income only.

According to Student Finance (SF), estrangement means:

  1. you have not been in contact (spoken or written) with either parent for at least 12 months
  2. this situation is unlikely to change (permanently damaged)

SF may also consider cases where the estrangement happened within the last 12 months, depending on your situation.

When to request a student finance reassessment

If your circumstances meet SF's definition of estrangement, you can request to be assessed as an independent student. This means your funding will no longer rely on your parents’ income.

You can request this at any time. The sooner you notify SF, the sooner your funding can be updated.

How to request a student finance reassessment

Tell SF about your change in circumstances

  1. Log in to your Student Finance account and inform them that you need to be reassessed due to estrangement. SF may ask you to complete a declaration form.

Gather your evidence and submit

  1. SF requires evidence from a professional who can confirm your situation. According to SF and UCAS, acceptable evidence includes (this is not a complete list):
    • a letter from our support service, such as Money Advice or Student Wellbeing
    • a letter from a teacher, GP, counsellor, social worker, or support worker who knows your situation
    • official documents such as police reports or court orders, if relevant

We can help you gather this evidence.

  1. Upload your documents to your Student Finance account or send them by post. SF may contact you for an explanation. Keep copies of all evidence you submit.

Await confirmation of independent status

  1. Once approved, SF will reassess your funding as an independent student and you may receive the maximum maintenance loan.

SF may request evidence of your estrangement each year that you apply for student finance.

How we can help you if you are estranged

If you are estranged from your parents, we can offer you: