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Writing off student debt due to ill health

Hi I had to drop out of my 3rd year at University last year after falling in with CFS/ME which I am likely not to recover from anytime soon. Its not life threatening but there is currently no cure.

I am currently on benefits to help support my living costs, but if I am ever able to get a job, whilst still having my illness, will I still be required to pay off my student debt? I was just wondering if there's any compensatory rule that would allow my debt to be written off due to me being unable to complete my degree due to unavoidable ill health, thus making all the time and money spent at University useless as I have ended up with no degree, just a to of debt.
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Comments

  • Tixy
    Tixy Posts: 31,455 Forumite
    According to http://www.studentloanrepayment.co.uk/portal/page?_pageid=93,6678571&_dad=portal&_schema=PORTAL
    If you receive a disability-related benefit and are permanently unfit for work, we can cancel the loan. However, we cannot cancel a loan unless we receive medical confirmation together with evidence of your disability benefit.


    So only if you are permanently unfit for work could the loan be written off.
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  • sourcrates
    sourcrates Posts: 30,598 Ambassador
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts I've been Money Tipped! Name Dropper
    Isn't it the case that you don't start repaying a student loan until such time as you achieve a certain income level ?


    if you never reach this income level, you never have to repay it.


    I think you are worrying about something that's not goanna happen.
    I’m a Forum Ambassador and I support the Forum Team on the Debt free wannabe, Credit file and ratings, and Bankruptcy and living with it boards. If you need any help on these boards, do let me know. Please note that Ambassadors are not moderators. Any posts you spot in breach of the Forum Rules should be reported via the report button, or by emailing forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com. All views are my own and not the official line of MoneySavingExpert.For free non-judgemental debt advice, contact either Stepchange, National Debtline, or CitizensAdviceBureaux.Link to SOA Calculator- https://www.stoozing.com/soa.php The "provit letter" is here-https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/2607247/letter-when-you-know-nothing-about-about-the-debt-aka-prove-it-letter
  • sulphate
    sulphate Posts: 1,235 Forumite
    What the other commenters have said. You only have to pay the loan back when you have an income over a certain amount, assuming you started your course in September 2011 you would need to earn £16,910 a year before the loan starts getting repaid. Your repayments stop if your income drops below the threshold.

    You aren't eligible for having the loan written off unless you are permanently unfit for work, the fact you ended up with no degree is irrelevant, you are still liable to pay tuition for the lectures etc you attended, maintenance for your living expenses at the time.
  • Mojisola
    Mojisola Posts: 35,571 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Don't think of it as a debt but as an extra tax you will have to pay if you start earning over the threshold amount.

    You'll need to reduce any stresses that you can if you're going to recover from ME so put this away and stop worrying - it just isn't a problem.
  • lalman
    lalman Posts: 279 Forumite
    I have been paying mine off and I agree with the other comments - its just like an additional tax on my income. I can't wait till its over though as its quite a sizeable amount.


    Out of curiosity, anyone know what rate of interest I am paying - I graduated in 2007.
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  • sourcrates
    sourcrates Posts: 30,598 Ambassador
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts I've been Money Tipped! Name Dropper
    lalman wrote: »
    Out of curiosity, anyone know what rate of interest I am paying - I graduated in 2007.



    Information here for you :


    http://www.slc.co.uk/services/interest-rates.aspx
    I’m a Forum Ambassador and I support the Forum Team on the Debt free wannabe, Credit file and ratings, and Bankruptcy and living with it boards. If you need any help on these boards, do let me know. Please note that Ambassadors are not moderators. Any posts you spot in breach of the Forum Rules should be reported via the report button, or by emailing forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com. All views are my own and not the official line of MoneySavingExpert.For free non-judgemental debt advice, contact either Stepchange, National Debtline, or CitizensAdviceBureaux.Link to SOA Calculator- https://www.stoozing.com/soa.php The "provit letter" is here-https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/2607247/letter-when-you-know-nothing-about-about-the-debt-aka-prove-it-letter
  • I see thanks for your replies. It just seems a little unfair that I will have to repay my student loan even though I never finished my degree. I would understand if i dropped out because I didn't like the course but in my case it was because I developed a serious medical condition.

    So Ill basically have to pay a lot of money back in the future for something I never even received.
  • sourcrates
    sourcrates Posts: 30,598 Ambassador
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts I've been Money Tipped! Name Dropper
    I see thanks for your replies. It just seems a little unfair that I will have to repay my student loan even though I never finished my degree. I would understand if i dropped out because I didn't like the course but in my case it was because I developed a serious medical condition.

    So Ill basically have to pay a lot of money back in the future for something I never even received.



    According to this, it will be written off after 25 yrs :


    http://www.studentloanrepayment.co.uk/portal/page?_pageid=93,6678571&_dad=portal&_schema=PORTAL
    I’m a Forum Ambassador and I support the Forum Team on the Debt free wannabe, Credit file and ratings, and Bankruptcy and living with it boards. If you need any help on these boards, do let me know. Please note that Ambassadors are not moderators. Any posts you spot in breach of the Forum Rules should be reported via the report button, or by emailing forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com. All views are my own and not the official line of MoneySavingExpert.For free non-judgemental debt advice, contact either Stepchange, National Debtline, or CitizensAdviceBureaux.Link to SOA Calculator- https://www.stoozing.com/soa.php The "provit letter" is here-https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/2607247/letter-when-you-know-nothing-about-about-the-debt-aka-prove-it-letter
  • foxgloves
    foxgloves Posts: 11,997 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Can understand that it seems unfair, but I think the bottom line is likely to be that you did have the loan.
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  • lika_86
    lika_86 Posts: 1,786 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    I see thanks for your replies. It just seems a little unfair that I will have to repay my student loan even though I never finished my degree. I would understand if i dropped out because I didn't like the course but in my case it was because I developed a serious medical condition.

    So Ill basically have to pay a lot of money back in the future for something I never even received.

    Why is it unfair? You received tuition, you used the university's facilities. The fact that you didn't get a degree in the end of it is irrelevant really, you aren't paying for a qualification (that's just the proof you completed the course), you are paying for an education, which you received.
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