Maintenance Loan Household Income Bands 2026/27: Full Reference Table

The maintenance loan tapers at a fixed rate for every pound of household income above £25,000. The formula is:

The taper rates for 2026/27:

• At home: £6.53, so the loan falls by £1 for every £6.53 of household income above £25,000, reaching the £4,013 minimum at £58,347
• Away, outside London: £6.47, reaching the £5,048 minimum at £62,410
• Away, London: £6.36, reaching the £7,039 minimum at £70,131

The taper rate difference between situations is intentional. Each living situation has its own maximum and its own guaranteed minimum, so each one reaches its floor at a different household income.

SFE normally uses the previous tax year's income. But if household income has dropped by 10% or more, you can apply for a current-year income reassessment. This can significantly increase your loan — sometimes by thousands of pounds — backdated to the start of the academic year.

Common reasons for reassessment:

• A parent loses their job or is made redundant
• A parent takes early retirement
• Self-employment income falls substantially
• A parent goes on maternity/paternity leave
• Rental income stops (property sold or tenant leaves)

Contact Student Finance England directly to request a mid-year reassessment. You will need evidence of the income change, such as a P45, redundancy letter, or accountant's statement.

The mid-year reassessment process typically takes four to six weeks. Once approved, SFE recalculates your annual entitlement and adjusts your remaining term payments. For example, if you are reassessed at Christmas and your loan increases by £2,000 per year, the remaining two-thirds of that increase is distributed across your January and April payments — you do not receive the full annual uplift in one go.

It is worth noting that income reassessment can also work against you: if household income has risen significantly during the year, SFE could theoretically reduce your loan. In practice, SFE only initiates a mid-year reassessment when you request one. If income has gone up, do not trigger an unnecessary review.

For the following academic year, SFE will automatically use the most recently assessed income year — either the standard prior-year figure, or the current-year figure if a reassessment was approved. If income recovers after a temporary drop, you may want to check whether your entitlement is reassessed upward the following year.

The maintenance loan calculator can show you what your revised loan would be if you enter the new income figure.

The table shows estimated loan amounts at every £2,500 household income step. Here is how to use it effectively:

• Find your income band. Round your household income up to the nearest £2,500 to get a conservative estimate (a slightly lower loan than the true figure). For example, if household income is £38,400, read the £40,000 row.
• Choose your living situation column. “At home” is correct if you live with your parents. “Away (outside London)” is the most common student category. “Away (London)” applies if your university is in one of the 32 London boroughs.
• Note the Max and Min labels. Rows highlighted “Max” are at or below £25,000 income — you receive the full loan. Rows showing “Min” are where the loan has reached its floor and will not fall further regardless of income.
• Use the interactive calculator for the exact figure. The table rounds to £2,500 steps; the maintenance loan calculator accepts your exact income and gives a more precise estimate.

If your income is close to a band boundary — say £26,000 or £50,000 — small changes to assessed income can meaningfully change your loan amount. A salary sacrifice pension contribution, for example, can reduce your assessable income and push you into a higher loan band.

If your parents are divorced, separated, or have never lived together, SFE normally assesses only the income of the parent you live with — your “natural parent in the household.” The non-resident parent's income is not included in most cases.

This can significantly affect your loan. If you live with the lower-earning parent, your assessed household income may be well below the full-loan threshold, and you may qualify for the maximum or near-maximum loan even if your non-resident parent earns a high income.

If you split time equally between two households — say two or three days per week at each parent's home — you need to designate one as your “main household” for SFE purposes. This is usually the address you use for official correspondence. Choose this carefully, as it determines which parent's income is assessed.

Important exception: if both parents are on your application as contributing to your maintenance, both incomes may be assessed. Contact SFE directly if your family situation is complex — they can advise on how your specific circumstances will be treated before you submit.

If the parent you live with has a new partner — whether married, in a civil partnership, or cohabiting — that partner's income is included in the household income assessment. This rule catches many families by surprise.

For example: your parent earns £18,000 and their new partner earns £35,000. Your assessed household income is £53,000, not £18,000. At £53,000, your loan (away outside London) is about £6,502, significantly less than the £10,830 maximum you might have expected based on your parent's income alone.

This rule applies regardless of whether the partner contributes to your expenses or has any relationship with you. SFE's position is that a new partner shares the household's financial resources.

If the stepparent or new partner genuinely does not contribute to your maintenance costs and you can evidence this, you can raise a formal query with SFE. These cases are assessed individually and the outcome depends on your specific circumstances. Document your financial arrangements clearly before contacting SFE.

Foreign income from a stepparent who is based overseas is also included, provided they are living with your parent in the UK household. SFE will ask for evidence of overseas earnings, which may require an overseas tax return or employer letter.