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Deferring student loans: which documents to supply
When you are submitting an application to defer, you will need to provide evidence of how you are being financially supported. If you do not provide this, your application may not be accepted, and you may be liable for repayments.
Supporting your deferment application: what you will need
When you apply to defer repayment of your student loan, you will need to send the Student Loans Company:
- a deferment application form
- proof of your means of financial support
To find out more about deferring repayment, see 'Deferring repayment of your student loan'.
Proof of your means of financial support: which documents to supply
The documentation you need to supply to support your deferment application depends on the situation you are in.
If you are employed
You will need to supply one of the following:
- wage slips confirming your gross income for the last three calendar months (handwritten slips are not acceptable)
- signed and dated letter from your employer on company headed paper confirming your gross monthly income for each of the last three calendar months (including overtime, bonuses, allowances, London weighting etc)
- offer of employment or copy of contract dated within the last two months, together with your most up to date wage slip
- if you are working for a temp agency, ask them to give you a printout of a P11 form showing their company name, your name and your gross earnings
If you are self-employed
You will need to supply one of the following:
- tax assessment (the end of year assessment that you send to the HMRC)
- profit and loss accounts
- latest statement of business accounts
- form SC60 / CIS25
- enterprise allowance or accountant's letter
If you are living on unearned income
You will need to supply one of the following:
- if you are being financially supported by a third party (for example, a parent, spouse or partner), a letter from this person confirming that the level of support is less than the current deferment threshold
- a grant award letter for the current academic year, or an ESPCR letter for your current course together with a letter from your college confirming attendance
- a copy of your loan agreement if you have borrowed money to live on
- a copy of your maintenance agreement or letter from person making payments
- a copy of your letting agreement or letter from tenant confirming frequency of payments and amount paid
- bank statements showing your balance and overdraft facility, along with a letter from you confirming that this is your only means of support
- confirmation of income received from investments
If you are travelling:
You will need to supply:
- a copy of your travel itinerary
Plus one of the following pieces of evidence in support:
- savings
- overdraft
- third party support letter: a letter from a parent, spouse or partner confirming that they support you and that the level of support is less than the current deferment threshold
- a deferment application form signed by a third party who has your authority to manage your account and confirmation that you are travelling
If you are in receipt of benefits
You will need to supply one of the following:
- Benefits Agency stamp on your deferment application form
- a copy of your current benefit agency book confirming your name, address, date and amount of benefit received
- Benefits Agency letter confirming your name, date, type and amount of benefit received
If you are a student again
If you have returned to higher education and are in receipt of student support, you will need to supply your Student Support Number.
This appears on your student support correspondence, for the current academic year - the first instalment of your loan must already have been paid to be classed as income.
If you are in prison
If you are serving a custodial sentence, a letter from your prison authority is required.
More useful links
Additional links
Student Loan repayment: online services
Use your online account to update personal details, check your balance or make a payment
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