Student loans deferrment cancelled as earning too little!

odlien

I seem to be in a strange and unexpected situation with the student loans company. When I took out the loan, I was aware I would have to start paying it back once I earned over a certain threshold, which I've got no problem with. Fifteen years on, and unfortunately I have not reached that threshold yet. However, at the moment I am self employed, and for the past couple of years I've had a profit of zero (though hopefully this will be changing in the next year). I've subsisted on the £50 per week working tax credit I receive. Now, being a bit of a money saving expert, and believing I shouldn't be spending on even small luxuries when I'm not earning the money for them, I've managed to get by on this ok, £15 for bills, cook all my own food, don't drink / smoke, cycle everywhere, etc. However, the student loans company are now saying that as due to their criteria, this isn't enough to live on, I must prove other means of subsistence (which I cannot do as I do not have any) or start paying the loan back starting april 15th. Now, although I get by ok on £50/w, it really is tight, and I cannot pay this, plus I don't feel I am due it as I am earning less than the threshold I agreed to in the conditions, and didn't agree to anything about earning over a certain amount. I know I could try and fake some kind of subsistence from a relative or something, but I believe in being honest and above board in such things. I explained to the person on the phone my situation, and they said they understood that I could live on this amount, but there was nothing they could do as it didn't meet their criteria.

Has anyone else been in this situation or got advice on how to deal with it?
Thanks

MK55

You must use a bank account to manage your money and life? Can't you send them 12 months statements or 6 months or something

odlien

Cheers for the suggestion - I did think of that; however, it really wouldn't prove anything I haven't already proved; once a week I take £50 out the bank, and I pay everything in cash, so apart from that there isn't really a trail of my spending; if I had thought this situation would arise maybe I should have kept the last year's worth of receipts from lidl but too late for even that now.
The thing that makes it tough is that I'm being asked to prove evidence of something that doesn't exist, i e additional income.

odlien

Well just in case someone else has the same problem and finds this thread - after writing a letter to SLC clearly explaining my predicament, they changed their minds and sent a letter saying my student loans were deferred for another year.

Rafter

Sure a letter challenging their first determination as odlien suggests would get you the right result.

Presumably you are living 'rent free' somewhere so a letter confirming this might help demonstrate your honesty.

Good luck

R.