Eek! Student loans "update your details" help please!

octopus_ears

I've been abroad since August traveling and returned home today To find a (thankfully recent) letter from the SLC saying I needed to update my details. I had never notified them of my going travelling because I wasn't aware it was a requirement. 

The first question asks if I'm living outside of the UK, and no, I'm not, but answering this seems disingenuous. Given this is (as far as I can tell) the first letter they've sent me, will I be penalised for telling them about my trip at this point? 

The other thing that complicated matters is that while I wasn't working abroad, I did receive a small income from a property I let out. It doesn't anywhere near meet the repayment threshold, but I haven't yet completed a self assessment for the income and so I don't have a tax payer reference number which the forms require. Theoretically I could write it into the form for overseas residents, but I don't want to receive a penalty for filling them in incorrectly.

Thirdly (ikr?), The letter states I must submit evidence of my earnings in the form of a bank statement, but my wallet was stolen in February and I just used one of my husband's cards from then on. The lack of activity on the statement surely would look like I've got another account open, possibly to hide income? 

Thanks for any advice yall can give me. I'm sort of flummoxed on how to proceed! 

redpete

octopus_ears said:

I've been abroad since August traveling and returned home today To find a (thankfully recent) letter from the SLC saying I needed to update my details. I had never notified them of my going travelling because I wasn't aware it was a requirement. 

The first question asks if I'm living outside of the UK, and no, I'm not, but answering this seems disingenuous. Given this is (as far as I can tell) the first letter they've sent me, will I be penalised for telling them about my trip at this point? 

The other thing that complicated matters is that while I wasn't working abroad, I did receive a small income from a property I let out. It doesn't anywhere near meet the repayment threshold, but I haven't yet completed a self assessment for the income and so I don't have a tax payer reference number which the forms require. Theoretically I could write it into the form for overseas residents, but I don't want to receive a penalty for filling them in incorrectly.

If you register for Self Assessment you should get a UTR in 10 working days

Thirdly (ikr?), The letter states I must submit evidence of my earnings in the form of a bank statement, but my wallet was stolen in February and I just used one of my husband's cards from then on. The lack of activity on the statement surely would look like I've got another account open, possibly to hide income? 

Why not provide your husband's statements as well highlighting which entries are for your rental income?

octopus_ears

The issue is that you have to fill in one of three sections: one that states that I am abroad, where I would submit statements showing the money I live on OR one that states that I am self employed. Can’t submit both.

But good to know about the UTR.