Moving in with a partner should be about choosing curtains and splitting the food shop, not worrying that your student finance will suddenly change. Yet a lot of students get stuck on one phrase in their Student Finance England account: SFE cohabiting partner.
The confusion is understandable. SFE uses “cohabiting” in a very specific way, and it affects whether someone else’s income is pulled into your assessment. If SFE gets it wrong, the impact can be immediate, a lower maintenance loan, a delayed payment, or a long back-and-forth for evidence.
Key Takeaways
- A cohabiting partner is someone you live with like you’re married or in a civil partnership.
- Partner income can affect your maintenance loan, it doesn’t change your tuition fee loan.
- If you’re under 25 and not married or in a civil partnership, a boyfriend or girlfriend usually isn’t assessed.
- SFE normally wants income evidence, not “proof of love”, but it may ask for proof if details clash.
- Wrong assessments are often fixable by updating circumstances and sending the right evidence once.
- If SFE refuses to change a clearly wrong decision, you can use the formal appeals process.
Table of Contents
- Key Takeaways
- What SFE Means By A Cohabiting Partner
- When Their Income Counts In Student Finance (And When It Doesn’t)
- Proof SFE Asks For And How To Put A Wrong Assessment Right
- Conclusion
- Frequently Asked Questions About Student Finance England Cohabiting Partner
What SFE Means By A Cohabiting Partner
For Student Finance England, a “cohabiting partner” is not just someone you share a flat with. It means you live together as if you’re married or in a civil partnership. In plain terms, SFE is trying to work out whether you’re a household unit, not housemates.
This label matters most for students who are treated as “independent” for student finance. A common example is being aged 25 or over and living with a partner. In that case, SFE may assess household income using both of your incomes.
It can also come up if you’re married or in a civil partnership (even if you don’t use the word “cohabiting” yourself). SFE is basically asking: who should be financially linked to you for means-testing?
If you want to see SFE’s wording in black and white, the partners and parents form spells out who counts, including a partner you live with as though married or in a civil partnership (PFF2 assessment form for parents and partners{:rel=”nofollow” target=”_blank”}).
As of February 2026, the definition and approach are the same as in recent application years, there hasn’t been a new rule change that suddenly pulls in more partners by default.
When Their Income Counts In Student Finance (And When It Doesn’t)
First, a relief: your partner’s income does not change your tuition fee loan. It can change your maintenance loan, because that part is income assessed.
SFE mainly looks at partner income when you’re assessed as an independent student and your circumstances mean a partner is your relevant “household”. That often covers students who are 25+, or who are married or in a civil partnership, and living with their partner.
Here’s a quick reality check that matches what most students experience:
| Your situation | Does partner income count? | What SFE is doing |
|---|---|---|
| Under 25, not married, living with a boyfriend/girlfriend | Usually no | You’re normally assessed using parental household income |
| Married or in a civil partnership | Yes | Spouse or civil partner is part of your household income |
| 25+ and living with a partner like you’re married | Yes | Cohabiting partner can be used in household income assessment |
| Living with friends (or a couple) as housemates | No | Housemates aren’t part of your household income |
| Separated from a partner you used to live with | It depends | SFE should reassess once separation is accepted |
When SFE does count a partner, it’s not usually a simple “their salary equals your reduction”. SFE calculates “household income” using a method that allows certain deductions and allowances. You can check the official explanation of what counts as household income in the application process on GOV.UK (how household income works{:rel=”nofollow” target=”_blank”}).
One more thing that catches people out: SFE can also treat you as independent for other reasons (for example, if you have a child). In those cases, your partner may still become the relevant person for income assessment if you live together as a couple.
Proof SFE Asks For And How To Put A Wrong Assessment Right
SFE admin can feel like a locked door with three different keys. The key is knowing which type of proof they’re actually asking for.
What Proof SFE Usually Asks For
Most of the time, SFE isn’t asking you to “prove” the relationship. It’s asking for income evidence from the person it’s assessing (a parent, a spouse, or a cohabiting partner).
Common requests include their National Insurance number, details entered online, and income documents. If SFE can’t match details automatically, it may ask for forms and evidence.
The cleanest place to double-check what evidence SFE accepts (and how to send it) is GOV.UK’s guidance for students, parents, and partners (evidence needed for a student finance application{:rel=”nofollow” target=”_blank”}).
If your account is also showing issues like rejected uploads, it helps to fix that quickly, because unclear documents can reset the waiting time. This guide on Fixing ‘Identity Not Verified’ on Student Finance England is useful if you’re stuck in document checks.
How To Fix A Wrong Cohabiting Partner Assessment
A wrong cohabiting partner decision usually happens for one of three reasons: SFE thinks you’re independent when you’re not, SFE thinks you live with a partner when you don’t, or SFE has linked you to the wrong person’s income.
Start by looking at your entitlement letter and account tasks, then act in a tight sequence:
- Write down what’s wrong (for example, “you assessed my partner’s income but I’m under 25 and not married”).
- Update your change of circumstances in your SFE account, don’t rely on a phone call alone.
- Send evidence that matches the mistake, like proof of separation or correct household details, rather than unrelated paperwork.
- Ask for reassessment and get the adviser to confirm what will change (maintenance loan amount, payment schedule, or both).
- If income has dropped, ask about a current-year income assessment (it can increase entitlement when last year’s tax figures don’t reflect now).
- Escalate if needed using the official process, not endless repeated calls.
If SFE’s decision is clearly wrong and doesn’t change after you’ve provided what they asked for, use the formal route set out on GOV.UK (Student Finance England appeals procedure{:rel=”nofollow” target=”_blank”}).
If the wrong assessment has already caused money problems, you’ll want to check whether your next instalment has been delayed as well. This checklist for why your Student Finance payment is late and how to fix it can help you spot holds that sit behind the scenes.
Conclusion
If “cohabiting partner” has appeared on your SFE assessment, don’t panic, treat it like an admin label that can be checked and corrected. The key is knowing when partner income should count, sending the right proof once, and pushing for reassessment if the decision doesn’t match your situation. When you’re confident on the rules, SFE cohabiting partner stops sounding scary and starts sounding solvable.
Frequently Asked Questions About Student Finance England Cohabiting Partner
Does A Boyfriend Or Girlfriend Count As A Cohabiting Partner?
Not automatically. SFE usually only assesses a partner’s income if you’re treated as independent and you live together as a couple, or if you’re married or in a civil partnership.
Will My Partner’s Income Affect My Tuition Fee Loan?
No. Tuition fee loans aren’t means-tested. Partner income can affect the maintenance loan calculation.
What If We Live Together But Keep Finances Separate?
SFE’s test isn’t about separate bank accounts. It’s about whether you live together as if married or in a civil partnership, and whether you fall into a category where a partner is used for assessment.
What Evidence Does SFE Ask For From A Cohabiting Partner?
Usually income details and supporting documents if needed, plus identity details like a National Insurance number. Check what’s requested in your account, then match it to GOV.UK evidence guidance.
How Long Does It Take SFE To Fix A Wrong Assessment?
It depends on whether evidence checks are needed. Small corrections can be quick, but document reviews can take weeks during busy periods. Keep screenshots of uploads and messages so you can chase with specifics.
