Help With Student Loans - HERE!

MykMallett

Well, ive been supporting myself since I was 18. When I was 21 I went to Uni, I became ill in my 2nd year and quit, mainly using the rest of my loan to support me. I then went back into full time work. Im going to be starting Uni again at 24.

As I dropped out through illness, will I be eligible for a loan. With regards to how much loan, I think ill just have to see what I can work out with my dad, or just have non-income assessed.

pastcatchingupwithme

Hi, been searching the internet trying to find some advice with my problem and stumbled across this forum so thought I'd post something in the hope that you can help!

I received a phone call from the Student Loans Company yesterday asking me to pay back a loan that I'd taken out in 1994 and forgotten about until now.

They said that they had been trying to trace me until now although can't understand why they hadn't found me as I have been on the Electoral Register for years.

They asked me to pay the full amount, around £1,600 which I can't afford, then took into account my outgoings which I did not fully give to them. The guy on the phone said I could easily afford around £200 a month which I personally know I can't! I gave them a ball park figure of £20 a month when asked how much I wanted to pay back.

I would have happily paid this back at a reasonable amount each month if I had been made aware of such in the past.

It seems that the law has changed since this time and am unsure about penalties regarding non-payment although the recent guidelines make scary reading!

I also read that you have 5 years to pay back the loan which I worked out to be around £30 a month which I would be happy to pay.

I felt slightly unhappy about the heavy handed way the guy on the phone spoke to me.

Any advice on this situation would be gratefully received!

Oldernotwiser

MykMallett wrote: »

Well, ive been supporting myself since I was 18. When I was 21 I went to Uni, I became ill in my 2nd year and quit, mainly using the rest of my loan to support me. I then went back into full time work. Im going to be starting Uni again at 24.

As I dropped out through illness, will I be eligible for a loan. With regards to how much loan, I think ill just have to see what I can work out with my dad, or just have non-income assessed.

If you left home and school at 18 and didn't go to university until you were 21, why weren't you considered an independent student at your first attempt at university? If that gap was,in fact, only 2 years, then the 1/2 years you've been working recently will be added to the time before you went the first time and would seem to definitely add up to over 3 years.

Contact the LEA where you now live, but it seems to me that you'll not only not need to involve your father in the application process but are also likely to be eligible for the maintenance grant as well as the student loans for fees and maintenance. As you've already had 2 years of finance you may get funding only for another 2 years. Are you going back to restart the second year at the university you attended before?

Andy1979

Hello.

I graduated in 2001 with a student loan of around £10k. Initially I did not earn above the repayment threshold for the first 12-18 months, however once I went over the threshold payments were automatically deducted from my payslips and have been ever since. I have been with the same employer ever since, although i have changed address twice.

I received a statement from the SLC before I commenced paymets (2002), however I've not received anything from them since.

After hearing of a couple of people who have been making payments but the SLC have no record of receiving them, I decided to get in touch. The SLC are saying they have no record of my payments! That's several thousand piunds over 5 years, plus interest! What do I do???

MykMallett

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

If you left home and school at 18 and didn't go to university until you were 21, why weren't you considered an independent student at your first attempt at university? If that gap was,in fact, only 2 years, then the 1/2 years you've been working recently will be added to the time before you went the first time and would seem to definitely add up to over 3 years.

Contact the LEA where you now live, but it seems to me that you'll not only not need to involve your father in the application process but are also likely to be eligible for the maintenance grant as well as the student loans for fees and maintenance. As you've already had 2 years of finance you may get funding only for another 2 years. Are you going back to restart the second year at the university you attended before?

Actually, thinking back, I was 19 when I left home. Was wondering exactly why I didnt claim independant and then realised.However, I didnt realise that it was a TOTAL of 3 years of being independant. What exactly do I need to prove that I was independant? I was living at various houses, including ex-girlfriends, that I very much doubt I could get proof of residence. I reckon with a big effort I could manage to get proof of working tho.

Im going back to start a new course. however, the course I am going to be taking up is 2 year study and 2 years paid placement, including paying fees, so hopefully that will be taken into consideration.

thanks very much for your help

Oldernotwiser

MykMallett wrote: »

Actually, thinking back, I was 19 when I left home. Was wondering exactly why I didnt claim independant and then realised.However, I didnt realise that it was a TOTAL of 3 years of being independant. What exactly do I need to prove that I was independant? I was living at various houses, including ex-girlfriends, that I very much doubt I could get proof of residence. I reckon with a big effort I could manage to get proof of working tho.

Im going back to start a new course. however, the course I am going to be taking up is 2 year study and 2 years paid placement, including paying fees, so hopefully that will be taken into consideration.

thanks very much for your help

Where you were living is irrelevant; you could've been living with your parents all the time and it would still count. It's where your money comes from that matters: whether you were earning or claiming benefits rather than being supported by your parents. You should be able to get proof of earnings from the tax office or Benefits Agency if you were claiming, but do check with your LEA exactly what they require. They'll also be the people who'll confirm your eligibility for more funding.

What course are you planning to do? I don't think I've heard of anything with the structure you describe. Let us know what the LEA say. Good luck.

Eccle_2

Andy1979 wrote: »

Hello.

I graduated in 2001 with a student loan of around £10k. Initially I did not earn above the repayment threshold for the first 12-18 months, however once I went over the threshold payments were automatically deducted from my payslips and have been ever since. I have been with the same employer ever since, although i have changed address twice.

I received a statement from the SLC before I commenced paymets (2002), however I've not received anything from them since.

After hearing of a couple of people who have been making payments but the SLC have no record of receiving them, I decided to get in touch. The SLC are saying they have no record of my payments! That's several thousand piunds over 5 years, plus interest! What do I do???

I assume if you graduated in 2001 you had the newer style loan where you repay directly out of your wages? I had a problem with some disappearing payments, and had to send them a copy of the relevant P whatever it is for the year (45 or 60? can't remember) and eventually they have recredited me with it and adjusted the interest. Have you spoken to them about what to do?

antoins

slcworker wrote: »

Im afraid not, the only postgraduate that is entitled to support is a PGCE.
I'd advise contacting your Uni or Local Authority.... Details of phone numbers can be found on www.studentfinancedirect.co.uk

hi
thank you very much for this information ,i was looking for the same information .

bluejelli

my twins are hoping to do B,ED teacher training next sept. I have been wading through infor about their entitlements to grants and bursaries etc. It seems to me we would be financially better off if i gave up my job as a T.A. to lower our household income. with two of them going at the sametime would we get 2 lots of grants etc. Does the wages the girls themselves earn count as part of household income? It is baffling! thanks in advance

Neato

I've forgot to submit my SLC forms!
Whats the chances of getting my loans on time ?