Extenuating Circumstances for Student Finance?

There is 'Compelling Personal Reasons' for if you need additional years funding (and in some cases, funding for years while you are a student but not studying (e.g your course is suspended on health grounds).

I am not aware of any extenuating circumstances to get more money in a given year, with the exception of the Special Support Grant (usually, in practice for lone parents,student couples with a child or students who have a qualifying disability). There is the access to learning fund at most universities which is extra money from your university instead of SF - see here.

I'm going to look into all the things you have mentioned and talk to my school. I know it's quite a while until I have to reply but this is just worrying me so much! Thank you so much for your reply

I might be reading the OPs problem differently. Because to me it sounds as though they're at school, want to apply to uni; but they feel their grades may suffer because of something that's happened.

Family money problems do not qualify for exceptional circumstances at all.

Still won't make any difference to SFE I'm afraid.
If your family income will be more than 15% lower this year you can apply for a current year assessment which allows your entitlements to be worked out on that year rather the usual year behind.

Are you sure you understand how it works?

You can get a tuition loan and a minimum maintenance loan without any trouble. Whilst you will need to do some part time work to make ends meet it is doable. Thousands do the same every year. You don't start paying a penny back until you are earning £21K a year, and only continue to pay as long as your income is over that figure.