Old style loan/new course

Runner5_2

I went to uni when I was 20 and I'm now 45. I have an old style student loan of £2300 which, because I didn't fill in the forms for a couple of years when my life was a disorganised mess due to MH issues, fell into what they class as "arrears" - even though I never came close to meeting the income threshold which would require repayment. I have been paying this back at £60 a month and have so far halved the balance leaving £2600, it's held by Link Financial.

Due to my life experiences I now want to retrain and give a bit back to services I have used, and I've completed the first two years of training to be a counsellor. I paid for the first two years myself, but the final two years is a cost of £4600, usually funded by an adult learner loan

Enquiries to student finance (gov) suggest I would be refused because of the "arrears". I have asked that if I pay of the balance, would I then be eligible for the finance and every time I ring up I get a different answer! I have a sum of money now which would enable me to either pay the balance and maybe then be eligible for a learner loan, or use it as a deposit for the course and self fund. Obviously the former would be much easier on me, but no one can give me a definite answer. 
Does anyone have experience of a similar situation to help me make my decision? If I pay my student loan balance and then cannot secure an adult learner loan, it will be the end of the road for my training. 

[Deleted User]

Hi

I'm sorry to hear about your troubles in the past.

The advice you've been given regarding your ineligibility is correct.

While the debt isn't owned by the Government any longer, they received pennies on the £ when it was sold on to the current owner.

Legislation states of you are in breach of contract for ANY previous support, you are ineligible for funding.

That being said, if the debt is repaid in full, whether it WAS in arrears or not, the contract is fulfilled and you are discharged meaning your eligibility to Student Support changes.

I hope that's a bit of good news for you, and this helps.

Disclaimer: not an expert.

Runner5_2

It is - thank you very much for taking the time to reply