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Who is responsible for paying back student loans?
Students are responsible for paying back student loans – not parents or partners
If your child or partner applies for means-tested finance, you will be required to submit information relating to your income in order to support their application. However, this does not make you liable for any resulting debt. This remains the case if:
- the student withdraws from higher education
- their earnings do not reach the required level to initiate repayment, or
- if they die while still owing money to the Student Loans Company
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Household income
How is household income used to calculate entitlement?
‘Household income’ is the combined income of the student and the parents or partner they live with. This can also include the income of a stepmother, stepfather, mother's partner or father's partner.
When a student’s application for financial support is being assessed, the Local Authority (LA) can use household income to decide the level of finance offered to the student.
If you provide details of your income, the student can receive more help with their tuition fees, a grant to help with their living costs and a higher level of student loan. If you do not provide details of your income to your LA, the student may not receive all the financial support to which they are entitled.
Evidence of your household income
When you provide details of your income you will need to send in original documents as proof of your income. If you support a student’s application online, this will be explained to you at the end. If you apply on paper, this is explained in the guidance notes.
If your household income changes while the student is studying
The LA will look at your income for the financial year 08/09 to decide how much a student is entitled to. However, If your household income drops by 15% or more, the student should advise the LA and they will review your likely income for the current year instead. They reassess the student’s entitlement based on your new income.
You should complete and send in a Current Year Income Assessment Form if your income changes while the student is studying their course. Please visit the Forms and guides page to download a Current Year Income Assessment Form.
If the LA decide that you should make a contribution towards the student’s tuition fees and living costs, they will tell you know how much you should pay in support.
What counts as household income if you are the parent of a student?
If you are the parent of a student who normally lives with you, the following rules apply:
- If you are separated or divorced, your income counts towards the household income but the income of the student's other parent will not.
- If you have remarried or live with a partner (of the opposite or same sex), their income will count towards the household income.
If you are the parent of a student and you have other dependent children, you LA will disregard £1,130 of your household income for any other children who are wholly or mainly financially dependent upon you before they calculate your contribution.
For example: you earn £20,000 per year and have two children, one of whom is a student. The LA will disregard £1,130 of your income and consider you to have an income of £18,870 for their assessment.
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Permission to discuss the student’s application
Getting permission to discuss the student’s application when you phone Student Finance Wales
If you contact us by phone or email, you do not automatically have permission to discuss the student’s application for finance. The Data Protection Act requires us to keep all your information, and that of the student, private.
Your role as the parent or partner of a student is to provide information to support an application for a loan, grant, or assistance with tuition fees. This does not entitle you to information about the student’s application for support.
If however you would like to make enquiries on behalf of a student, they can give Student Finance Wales permission to talk to you about their account. Get consent to share the student’s information.
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Supporting an online application
Why do I need to register and login?
We offer the parents and partners of students an online account so that they can provide their household income information in support of a student’s application. This is a safe way of sharing your confidential information over the internet.
Your Customer Reference Number – for parents and partners of students
Anyone who logs into Student Finance Wales needs a Customer Reference Number –students and their parents and partner if they are supporting an application online.
When you log in to your account via the Student Finance Wales website you will be prompted to provide your Customer Reference Number, your internet password and secret answer. Your Customer Reference Number is printed on all correspondence you will have received from Student Finance Wales.
Your password and secret answer
Your password and secret answer identify you when you log in to the Student Finance Wales Website. When you register online you can choose your secret question and answer. If you have previously supported an application you must use the Customer Reference Number, secret answer and password previously provided to login to the system.
If the student applied for student finance on paper, you will be sent an initial password and secret answer in the post. This will be a combination of random letters and numbers. You will then be given the chance to choose your own password secret answer when you login.
What should I do if I forget my password or secret answer?
If you forget your secret answer you can reset this online. Choose the ‘Forgotten my details?’ link from the login page.
Your account is locked after three unsuccessful attempts to login. However, you can still reset your password and secret answer online, which will unlock your account.
What is an Alias ID?
When the student applies for finance, they are provided with an 11 digit number known as an Alias ID. This is used to link your online account to the student so that you can provide your financial details online. After you login to the online service, you will need the Alias ID and the student’s date of birth to support their application. You will have a different Alias ID for each student you are supporting.
The student will find out their Alias ID when they apply online. It will also be sent to you by letter or email.
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