diff --git a/db/migrate/20241015121145_add_not_null_reference.rb b/db/migrate/20241015121145_add_not_null_reference.rb
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..a68d8dea47
--- /dev/null
+++ b/db/migrate/20241015121145_add_not_null_reference.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+class AddNotNullReference < ActiveRecord::Migration[7.0]
+  def change
+    change_column_null :claims, :reference, false
+  end
+end
diff --git a/db/schema.rb b/db/schema.rb
index 2aa35382cd..5f973651e6 100644
--- a/db/schema.rb
+++ b/db/schema.rb
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@
 #
 # It's strongly recommended that you check this file into your version control system.
 
-ActiveRecord::Schema[7.0].define(version: 2024_09_24_113642) do
+ActiveRecord::Schema[7.0].define(version: 2024_10_15_121145) do
   # These are extensions that must be enabled in order to support this database
   enable_extension "citext"
   enable_extension "pg_trgm"
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@
     t.string "bank_sort_code", limit: 6
     t.string "bank_account_number", limit: 8
     t.datetime "submitted_at", precision: nil
-    t.string "reference", limit: 8
+    t.string "reference", limit: 8, null: false
     t.boolean "has_student_loan"
     t.integer "student_loan_country"
     t.integer "student_loan_courses"