Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department takes to verify the continuous UK residence requirements for late EU Settlement Scheme applicants before student finance eligibility is granted.

Student Finance England (SFE) is responsible for assessing personal and course eligibility for higher education student support. To be eligible for student finance an applicant must satisfy the criteria within the Education (Student Support) Regulations 2011 (as amended).

Where a late applicant to the EU Settlement Scheme is required to demonstrate that they meet the relevant residence requirements for student support, SFE considers information provided by the applicant about their residence history and may request supporting evidence, such as employment records, tenancy agreements, utility bills or other documentation where necessary to establish eligibility. The Home Office remains responsible for determining an individual's immigration status.

A Certificate of Application does not, by itself, confer entitlement to student support.

In assessing eligibility, SFE may require applicants to provide information and evidence relating to their residence history to determine whether they satisfy the relevant residence requirements set out in the student support regulations.

Additionally, SLC rely on accurate information provided by the Home Office regarding an applicant’s immigration status as the Home Office is the competent authority on such matters.