This post first published: 04 September 2018
We know how important the first student loan payment is for students who have things to pay for. They’ll need to understand that they won’t get paid until they’ve registered at their university or college. So they might need to cover travel to their new university or their first term’s rent themselves.
This is why it’s important they follow our checklist to get their money as soon as possible.
1. Make sure your bank details are up to date.
2. Make sure you’ve provided us with any evidence we need from you.
3. Register at uni or college.
4. Check your student finance account for payment dates.
Our playlist explains what steps students need to take to get their money. Share it on your website and social media channels to make sure students know what they need to do.
Students who haven’t got their money
Most students will get their money on their scheduled payment date, but payments can take up to five working days to be cleared if they’ve applied late or had some issues with their application. They should contact their bank first who should know when their money will clear.
If their student finance payment is showing as ‘blocked’ in their online account, this may mean that we’re confirming their National Insurance number with the Department for Work and Pensions. They should get paid as soon as we’ve confirmed their National Insurance number which can take an additional 10 working days to process.
For more information on the student finance payment process, students can visit our dedicated payment page.
Ask SFE online
If your students have any questions about getting their first payment, our experts are available online Monday - Friday 9am-5pm and Saturday 9am-4pm to answer their questions. They can:
tweet us @SF_England, or
post their question on Facebook/SFEngland.
