Deferment Loophole over Arrears & Disability

ClarissaSmid

Hello everyone,

I'm writing this because I am wondering how many other people are in the same position as me.

I took my loans out in 1996 and 1998 (I have two, for the same degree, for which I changed uni in the middle).

I have never been able to earn over the limit set by the SLC or HSL, and so deferred my loans from the point that my degree ended and I began working. However, in 2001, I had a complete nervous breakdown and was admitted to hospital for a few weeks. I have since been diagnosed with bipolar disorder and have been unable to work since the end of 2006.

During the intervening years, I struggled on, but while I was in hospital, I started getting letters telling me I was in arrears. When well enough to think about it, I was miffed: I'd deferred my loan. I had copies of the signed forms, and a statement from my company about my earnings etc. And I'd sent the forms so that they were signed for at the other end. I contacted the Royal Mail and they sent me evidence with a copy of the signature when my forms were delivered. I sent this evidence to the SLC but they still denied they ever received my forms and that I still had arrears to pay.

I have found out two things. Honours Student Loans appear to have a policy whereby they will not defer a loan if there are arrears on it.

However, they also have a policy of deferring loans on grounds of disability for three years at a time. However, get this: you have to get a GP or Consultant to write a letter stating that you will be unable to return to work for the next three years.

I put this to my own GP a few weeks ago and he refused to sign a letter stating this. Not because I'm not ill - I definitely am. But because he couldn't understand where HSL have got this three year period from, and also because he doesn't feel that ANY practitioner can reliably say whether a patient will be not be well enough to work within a future three year period. In fact, he was confident that most GPs and Consultants wouldn't sign a letter stating that, unless a patient was so emotionally and physically disabled that they were practically a vegetable.

So, I can't defer my loan because I've got arrears (that I can't pay, being on benefits), and I can't defer my loan on grounds of disability because my GP won't agree to stating that I won't be able to work within three years. Yet; I am on a very low income, and I have a disability that has made it impossible for me to work for nearly six years!

It can't just be me: am I not stuck in a loophole here?

Would be very interested to hear about anyone else with the same situation.

Best wishes,

Clarissa

Oldernotwiser

Can I clarify something; are there actually arrears or are these because the SLC deny having received your deferment forms?