Alison Lees

@SF_England Thanks. I will assume a for practical purposes deadline of June, then.

@AlisonMLees Absolutely - just to say, if she ends up re-applying in June then that really shouldn't be a problem. We aim to approve applications in 6-8 weeks, but it's normally fairly quick for continuing students. Thanks, Graeme

@SF_England Please can you tell me when my daughter has to apply for next year's loan? She is on her year abroad this year, and will be starting year 4 in September. I do not know if she can wait until she gets back to England? That will probably be in June.

@HMRCcustomers Making Tax Difficult. Needs to be rolled back. Needs to be made optional. Needs to be restricted to large turnovers (e.g., large enough for VAT). We need less paperwork; fewer deadlines; no software; no costs; no fees; no accountant; no reliance on technology.

@SF_England Thank you. I will advise her accordingly. She'll probably get me to do it for her anyway. That's the way it should be, by the way. When it came to my grant (1989), my mother did all the work and form-filling, and I just turned up to collect my cheques.

@AlisonMLees Hi Alison, your daughter will be fine to apply in May or June for continuing on her course starting from the 01/09/26. Drew was was simply advising that we ask students to apply as early as possible thought so to ensure they receive their payments on time. Thanks, Stephen.

@HMRCcustomers And lots of people are not happy, and people are posting that they won't do it, or they can't do it, and you need to back off and make it entirely optional. No ifs, no buts. We are the boss of you. We pay taxes, you are public servants. So start serving. Optional for MTD.

We're now closed and will be back at 8am tomorrow. 📻 Tax is changing. If your combined turnover from self-employment and property is over £50,000, you must keep digital records and send quarterly updates using recognised software from 6 April. ⬇️ makingtaxdigital.campaign.gov.uk/?&utm_source=t…

@HMRCcustomers When I started filing tax assessments, records had to be on paper, not digital. Nothing has changed. Digital is still unsafe. Requiring digital records is still not acceptable. You need to fix things back how they were.

@SF_England I don't think you read my post, Drew. The student is in France, and we are assuming that she will find it easier to tackle when she is at home with us to help, and need to know if May or June will be too late. [I never organised my student grant; it was entirely my mother's job.]

@AlisonMLees Hi Alison, That would be up to the student as we would always advise to apply as soon as the applications are open. Thanks, Drew

@HMRCgovuk I cannot see anything that the HMRC app is good for. What does it actually do?

The HMRC app makes checking your money and tax simple, secure, and stress free. 😌 When you’re on it, you’re on it. Download now. ⬇️ gov.uk/guidance/downl…

@HMRCcustomers also, records should be paper based, with digital an optional extra. You' be heard of computer viruses, and hacking, no?

@HMRCcustomers My social media is full of posts about Making Tax Difficult. I've been trying to figure it out. It's impossible. The HMRC website is written using jargon I don't understand. I've no idea what software I will need. Freelancers working from home should be exempt!

@SF_England So it's probably better to wait until she is back home from her year abroad, so she can do it at home and we can help her?

Hi Alison, when applications open we have a deadline and guideline. The deadline as Clare advised, is 9 months from the start of the academic year. The guideline for continuing students is normally in June. Like anything we can't guarantee she will have her funding in place for the start of term, as this will be dependant on when she applies and how busy we will be at the time. Applications normally take 6-8 weeks to process one we have everything, so we always advise students to apply as soon as they can. Thanks, Claire

@SF_England Obviously, at her earliest convenience; also, obviously, after the academic year starts will be not helpful for her, as she will not otherwise get the money on time. The question is, will it be okay to leave it until June? Can you please give a sensible and helpful answer?

@AlisonMLees Hi Alison, the official deadline is 9 months from the first day of the academic year however, we advise at your earliest convenience, as timescales will be dependent on the volume of applications in the queue at that time. Thanks, Clare

@SF_England Thank you. We need to decide whether she can leave the application until she gets back to England, from her year abroad (she is currently in France). What deadline should she assume, for a final decision by the beginning of the academic year?

@AlisonMLees Hi there. For undergraduate, they will be available on 23/03/2026. Mailing list is here: gov.uk/government/new… Thanks, Leah.

@Almd1233 @MannGeorgia @BBCRadio3 School, library, radio, television, museum; there are other ways to learn besides school.

@MannGeorgia @BBCRadio3 What I can’t get over is that we went to the same school and he has all that culture!!!

Happy Birthday to this legend! Here he is playing Chopin’s piano on the weekend. Join us ⁦@BBCRadio3⁩ 9.30 for Beethoven 2 to start, Saint-Saens Wedding 🍰 Caprice & Elena Kats-Chernin’s Blue Rose 🌹 in the Playlister 📻🎹👌

@SF_England Yes, this will be her fourth year for her BA.

@AlisonMLees Hi Alison, Is this for a full time undergraduate course for the 2026/27 academic year? Thanks, Drew

@wagstaff99 @MannGeorgia @BBCRadio3 @Spectator_LIFE Try: spectator.com/article/stop-t…

@MannGeorgia @BBCRadio3 @Spectator_LIFE Perhaps I'm not looking in the right place for your piece, I just see an article about the Minneapolis shootings by a Spectator journalist. I'm a bit thick about using links, so if you can point the way for me I'd be grateful.

Morning All! I’m on my way back from Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 so not on @bbcradio3 this morning. I wrote this for The Spectator ⁦@Spectator_LIFE⁩ Please read. I felt the need to respond to a certain line of criticism… spectator.com/article/stop-t…

@MannGeorgia @BBCRadio3 Morning playlister is reminding me of the Lark Ascending, but you might prefer something less obvious. George Butterworth is nice?

Morning! Don’t make poor coat decisions today! Join us @BBCRadio3 9.30 for a Bartered Bride to start, Mozart’s Jupiter Symphony, some Edith Piaf & Jocelyn Pooke’s Everest-inspired ‘Wonderland’ is in the Playlister 📻❤️

@HMRCgovuk Don't people know their NI numbers by heart? And why can't you issue them on a little plastic card. Perhaps a totally free card that serves both as proof of age ID and of entitlement to work (let us have none of this racist nonsense that seems to be pervading the system nowadays)

Keep your National Insurance number handy. 🖐️ Download the HMRC app and access it whenever you need and save it to your digital wallet on your phone. Remember to share it only when it’s required. Download today. gov.uk/guidance/downl…

@OldhamCouncil I am sitting in Chadderton town hall, rehearsing with the Oldham Choral Society, and the light bulbs are half of them not functioning and it is too dark for some people to read the music and this will not do at all. You need to fix the lights.