An app from HMRC which provides information such as your National Insurance number and tax information has been flagged by the taxman to help students completing their A’ Levels this year and planning to head to university in September.
Anyone who is applying for student finance – for Fee Loans, Maintenance Loans or Maintenance Grants – for the 2024/25 academic year is encouraged to start their application now, so it can be processed in good time before the academic year starts in September.
In the 12 months to March 2024, more than 112,000 customers called the National Insurance Helpline to find out their lost or forgotten NI number, with almost half of these calls coming from customers aged between 16 and 20, according to HMRC’s data.
May was also the busiest month, with more than 6,400 young people calling the helpline for this information, which coincides with them applying for their student finance, HMRC said.
Where can I find the app to download it?
To avoid having to call, students are being encouraged to download the free HMRC app from GOV.UK, which will give them access instantly to the details they need.
Suzanne Newton, HMRC’s Director General for Change Delivery said: “Getting your NI number is simple with a tap of HMRC’s app and young people should take advantage of it. Download the HMRC app today straight from your phone’s app store to get all the info you need quickly and easily.”
Students can apply for finance to help with the cost-of-living expenses, but what they will receive will depend on household income and where they will live while they are studying. To complete the application, they will also need to have their parents’ or partner’s NI number.
They will also need:
- A working email address.
- A bank account in their own name.
- A valid UK passport.
- Course details.
Source: HMRC
You can find more information on GOV.UK.
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If you need any assistance making your own or your child’s application for a student finance, then please get in touch and we will be happy to offer you the help and guidance you need.
