The evidence you provide must be a combination where possible of different types of documents covering an aggregate total of 36 months and can include the following:
- P60s or equivalent documents if work was done overseas
- P45s or equivalent documents if work was done overseas
- final payslips for financial year end, week 52 or March payslip - alternatively, send the relevant payslips for the particular period of employment
- employers letter on headed paper and include the dates worked, yearly earnings, contracted hours and rate of pay
- evidence of self-employment which can be either your accounts or printouts of your online HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) self assessment form
- HMRC statement of employment earnings
- proof you supported yourself by paying your own bills - include utility bills or council tax statements with your name on
- proof you were paying your own mortgage - send the relevant mortgage statements
- proof of sickness benefit
- proof of benefits including all of the dates you were entitled to these
- letter from university confirming PHD or research degree funding arrangements - this would only be applicable if you had been in receipt of state studentship funding provided by the state to support a postgraduate student undertaking research as well as study which is normally arranged through various UK research councils
- proof of income from property or lettings
- proof of pension - can only be included if accrued from your own employment rather than if paid as a result of being a dependant of the pension holder
- proof you supported yourself from savings, such as a bank statement - savings can only be considered if accrued from earnings, additional evidence such as earlier bank statements will also be required. Savings acquired from a trust fund, inheritance or a gift, will not be considered.
Evidence of paying your own bills or mortgage will only be considered as proof of self support if sent in conjunction with evidence of your income.
'Earnings' do not include Student Finance England, student loans and grants or any other form of statutory award apart from income received from a state studentship.
Failure to provide any of the relevant evidence will result in the assessment of your application being delayed.
HMRC can be contacted by calling 0300 2003300.