Household contribution
Once all the income of the household has been assessed, the relevant amounts are added together to give the total household income, which is then used to determine the level of contribution. There are different rules for those who started

2006/07 and 2007/08 entrants
If your household’s assessable income is £18,360 or less, no contribution is expected and you will receive the maximum support to which you are entitled.

After this point, your entitlement to the maintenance grant or special support grant will be reduced first. For every £6 of income over this amount and under £27,810, £1 will be deducted from the maintenance grant or special support grant as appropriate (to a maximum reduction of £1,260). For income above £27,810, £1 will be deducted from the remainder of your maintenance grant or special support grant for every £9.50 of additional household income. If your household income exceeds £39,305, you will not receive any grant.

If your household income exceeds £39,780, the other means-tested elements of your student support will be reduced in the following order:

• Adult dependents' grant
• Childcare grant
• Parents' learning allowance
• Means-tested element of the student loan, including any long courses loan
• Travel grant

If all of these grants are reduced to zero, you will still be able to receive the 75 per cent of the relevant basic rate of student loan for living costs and the loan for tuition fees.

2008/09 entrants
If your household’s assessable income is £25,000 or less, no contribution is expected and you will receive the maximum support to which you are entitled.

After this point, your entitlement to the maintenance grant or special support grant will be reduced. For every £6 of income over £25,000 but under £34,450, £1 will be deducted from the maintenance grant or special support grant as appropriate (to a maximum reduction of £1,260). For income above £34,450, £1 will be deducted from the remainder of your maintenance grant or special support grant for every £21.12 of additional household income. If your household income exceeds £60,005, you will not receive any grant.

The 25 per cent of the relevant rate of the basic student loan for living costs will then be reduced by £1 for every £9.50 of household income above £61,061.

If you receive certain other elements of support, they will be affected by the means test in a slightly different way. If your household income exceeds £39,780, the other means-tested elements of your student support will be reduced in the following order:

• Adult dependents' grant
• Childcare grant
• Parents' learning allowance
• Long courses loan
• Travel grant

If you don’t receive any means-tested support, you will still be able to receive the 75 per cent of the relevant basic rate of student loan for living costs and the loan for tuition fees.