The MSE Forum will be undergoing some maintenance this evening. As a result, some users may experience temporary performance issues. Please use the Site Feedback board to report anything major. Thank you for your patience.

Repaying Student Loans 2009/10 guide discussion

1848587899093

Comments

  • TigerLily7
    TigerLily7 Posts: 61 Forumite
    I am on a Plan 1 Student Loan (started in 2005) and have a debt of £32,000.

    Last year I paid £700 from PAYE but £380 was applied at interest. I'm not sure if I should make overpayments - could that work out better in the long run?

    And am I right to say it will be wiped at the age of 65?

    Any advice would be really appreciated.
    Curating a life based on mindfulness, intentional spending and saving.
  • Ed-1
    Ed-1 Posts: 3,865
    First Anniversary Name Dropper First Post
    Forumite
    TigerLily7 wrote: »
    I am on a Plan 1 Student Loan (started in 2005) and have a debt of £32,000.

    Last year I paid £700 from PAYE but £380 was applied at interest. I'm not sure if I should make overpayments - could that work out better in the long run?

    And am I right to say it will be wiped at the age of 65?

    Any advice would be really appreciated.

    Yes, pre-2006 loans are cancelled at aqe 65.

    Is the full £32,000 from the same pre-2006 course? I can't imagine it would be other than for an unusually long course such as Architecture as tuition fees weren't even £3,000 for pre-2006 courses and for some they were free (max of £1,200 ish but means tested).
  • TigerLily7
    TigerLily7 Posts: 61 Forumite
    Ed-1 wrote: »
    Yes, pre-2006 loans are cancelled at aqe 65.

    Is the full £32,000 from the same pre-2006 course? I can't imagine it would be other than for an unusually long course such as Architecture as tuition fees weren't even £3,000 for pre-2006 courses and for some they were free (max of £1,200 ish but means tested).

    Thanks, Ed.

    I started a course in 2005 and left to start another course in 2007 (which finished in 2011). Does that change anything?
    Curating a life based on mindfulness, intentional spending and saving.
  • Ed-1
    Ed-1 Posts: 3,865
    First Anniversary Name Dropper First Post
    Forumite
    TigerLily7 wrote: »
    Thanks, Ed.

    I started a course in 2005 and left to start another course in 2007 (which finished in 2011). Does that change anything?

    Yes. Any borrowing from the pre-2006 start is written off at age 65.

    Any borrowing for the post-2006 start is written off 25 years after loan entered repayment (April after leaving).
  • TigerLily7
    TigerLily7 Posts: 61 Forumite
    Ed-1 wrote: »
    Yes. Any borrowing from the pre-2006 start is written off at age 65.

    Any borrowing for the post-2006 start is written off 25 years after loan entered repayment (April after leaving).

    Thank you, Ed. Really kind of you to reply!

    Do my payments go towards both equally? Is there any way I can manage my repayments to reduce interest mounting up?
    Curating a life based on mindfulness, intentional spending and saving.
  • Ed-1
    Ed-1 Posts: 3,865
    First Anniversary Name Dropper First Post
    Forumite
    TigerLily7 wrote: »
    Thank you, Ed. Really kind of you to reply!

    Do my payments go towards both equally? Is there any way I can manage my repayments to reduce interest mounting up?

    As they're both pre-2012 loans, they both have the same interest rate. No, it's not possible to decide yourself which academic year's loan balance to apply your repayments to unless it is a voluntary repayment. The repayment is split proportionally across all loans in proportion to the outstanding balance of that loan.

    See the SLC's response to this freedom of information request here: https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/icr_student_loan_cancellation_re_2#incoming-569571

    The loans for courses A, B and C are all added together for repayment purposes.

    Although borrowers are shown a grand total outstanding loan balance, each academic year's loan has a separate balance. Any income contingent repayment made is split across all loans that are in repayment status, in proportion to the outstanding amount of each loan, for example, a borrower has loans with outstanding balances of £2,000, £2,000 and £1,000. The borrower makes a repayment of £100. This will be split £40/£40/£20, i.e., 40%/40%/20%. Voluntary repayments will also be split in this way unless the borrower requests that the repayment be applied to a particular loan balance.

    As the loans have separate balances, each outstanding loan balance will be cancelled when the cancellation date for that particular loan falls due.
  • TigerLily7
    TigerLily7 Posts: 61 Forumite
    Ed-1 wrote: »
    As they're both pre-2012 loans, they both have the same interest rate. No, it's not possible to decide yourself which academic year's loan balance to apply your repayments to unless it is a voluntary repayment. The repayment is split proportionally across all loans in proportion to the outstanding balance of that loan.

    See the SLC's response to this freedom of information request here: https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/icr_student_loan_cancellation_re_2#incoming-569571

    The loans for courses A, B and C are all added together for repayment purposes.

    Although borrowers are shown a grand total outstanding loan balance, each academic year's loan has a separate balance. Any income contingent repayment made is split across all loans that are in repayment status, in proportion to the outstanding amount of each loan, for example, a borrower has loans with outstanding balances of £2,000, £2,000 and £1,000. The borrower makes a repayment of £100. This will be split £40/£40/£20, i.e., 40%/40%/20%. Voluntary repayments will also be split in this way unless the borrower requests that the repayment be applied to a particular loan balance.

    As the loans have separate balances, each outstanding loan balance will be cancelled when the cancellation date for that particular loan falls due.



    Thank you, Ed!
    Curating a life based on mindfulness, intentional spending and saving.
  • Rickster1978
    Rickster1978 Posts: 49 Forumite
    Hi all

    Hoping this is the correct thread to get a bit of advice.

    I'm on a pre-1998 student loan (I know, I know, I don't look old enough). I've seen that the rate is set to increase from 1.6% to 3.1% in September so wondering if I should focus on getting it repaid. My only other debt is my mortgage at 2.19%. I'm guessing I've got about £3-£4K outstanding on the student loan as I've been repaying it for about 3 years now.

    Just wondering if it's worth paying it off now or whether I'm better off putting any spare money in savings and pay it off in a lump sum. I'm guessing I'd need a decent savings rate for that to be the better option.
  • naf123
    naf123 Posts: 1,694
    Name Dropper Combo Breaker First Post First Anniversary
    Forumite
    Ed-1 wrote: »
    Yes. Any borrowing from the pre-2006 start is written off at age 65.

    Any borrowing for the post-2006 start is written off 25 years after loan entered repayment (April after leaving).



    I started in 2005, dropped out (did not borrow anything) but continued a new course in 2006 - with borrowing.

    Where is the actual evidence that it will be wiped out after 25 years despite starting in 2005/ not borrowing?


    Thanks
  • I personally think this page needs to be improved in three ways, relating to whether people should make voluntary overpayments.

    1) Even if you click the post-2012 tab (where you can see that current rates are up to 6.1% for many borrowers), the following text still occurs lower down: "With student loan interest rates at 1.6%, it's extremely unlikely most other debts – whether credit cards, loans or hire purchase – are costing you less, so always pay those off before even contemplating touching your student loan." This is straightfowardly incorrect I think, many people paying 6.1% will be paying more in loan interest than on eg a mortgage.

    The issue is just more complicated than the page makes out. Even if you are paying 6.1%, if your balance is so high you are unlikely to pay it off, then you are throwing money away by making overpayments -- you will keep paying the same amount until it is written off.

    2) I think it should also give more emphasis, rather than just mentioning in passing: "Plus student loan debt has the safety that it needn't be repaid if your income drops." If I have both a 20k student loan and a 20k credit card, even if I'm paying £150 a month on each and more interest on the loan, I should pay the card off first probably. If I lose my job, the loan won't be a problem but the card will.

    3) I don't think there's any discussion of plan 2 borrowers who failed to graduate. These people will *not* have their loans written off, as far as I understand it. They may wish to consider paying them off if they have the income. (I think! Not seen much discussion of this point.)
Meet your Ambassadors

Categories

  • All Categories
  • 342.4K Banking & Borrowing
  • 249.9K Reduce Debt & Boost Income
  • 449.4K Spending & Discounts
  • 234.6K Work, Benefits & Business
  • 607K Mortgages, Homes & Bills
  • 172.8K Life & Family
  • 247.4K Travel & Transport
  • 1.5M Hobbies & Leisure
  • 15.8K Discuss & Feedback
  • 15.1K Coronavirus Support Boards