HMRC app speeds up student loan applications

With many A level students in Wales planning their next steps in life, those starting university
in September can ‘tap the app’ to get National Insurance and tax information they need to
complete their student finance applications, HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has said.

Anyone applying for a student loan for the 2024/25 academic year is encouraged to start
their application now and to get the essential details they need, including their National
Insurance (NI) number, quickly and easily via the HMRC app.

HMRC data shows that in the 12 months to March 2024, more than 112,000 customers
called the National Insurance Helpline asking for a lost or forgotten NI number of which
nearly 50% were from customers aged between 16 and 20. It also shows May was the
busiest month with more than 6,400 young people calling the helpline for their NI number,
coinciding with students applying for their student loans.

HMRC has produced a video (link) to encourage students to save time by downloading the
free and easy to use HMRC app for instant access 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.”

As well as their NI number, students applying for finance will also need:
 a working email address
 a bank account in their own name

 a valid UK passport
 course details

Students can also apply for finance to help with cost of living expenses. How much they
receive is dependent on household income – as well as where they live while they study.
Parents or the partner of students will also need to have their NI number to hand. Visit
GOV.UK for more information.

Any details missing from an application could cause a delay and may mean a delay in
receiving any loan payments in time for the start of the students’ course so it’s important to
keep essential details to hand.

Bill Watkin, Chief Executive of the Sixth Form Colleges Association said:
“Downloading details from the HMRC app will speed up the process of applying for a student
loan. Preparing for higher education can be a time-consuming process for sixth form
students so we are pleased this will help to reduce the administrative burden on young
people.”

Searching for NI information is one of the most popular searches on the HMRC app with
almost 900,000 views in the last year and more than 430,000 National Insurance card
downloads to customers’ digital wallets. It is available and easy to access whenever they
need it.

@HMRCpressofficehttps://www.youtube.com/shorts/G1xthSuodRk

For more information go to www.studentfinancewales.co.uk/
More information about the HMRC app.
People can download the app at the [App Store] or [Google Play]. Online reviews
indicate plenty of satisfaction with the app’s performance, as it currently holds a
score of [4.8] stars on the App Store, and [4.7] on Google Play.
App users will need to create a Government Gateway account or sign in if they
already have one to access their personal information.
The app can be used to access income and employment history, salary information,
National Insurance number, tax code, and more whenever it’s needed. You can
quickly download and print much of this information through the app within seconds,
eliminating the need to call HMRC to ask for it or to be sent in the post
Once a customer has signed into the app for the first time, they can use facial
recognition, their fingerprint or a 6-digit pin to get fast and secure access.
Customers who don’t have a Government Gateway user ID and password will need
two forms of evidence to prove their identity. This can include their UK passport and
UK driving licence.
We’re urging customers never to share their Government Gateway user ID and
password. Someone using these details could steal from them or make a fraudulent
claim in their name.