Student Loan Write Off Loophole Discriminates Against People with Mental Illness 21 April 2021 at 3:46PM in Loans 22 replies 1.7K views

[Deleted User]

I am writing this with a sense of despair and anger.

Honors Student Loans are using a loophole to prevent me from deferring my loans. 

They are using another rule that I consider discriminatory against anyone with a mental illness that prevents them from working.  In my case, I've not been able to work since 2006.

The loophole is that if you have arrears, they will not let you defer AND the loan also does not mature until you clear the arrears or repay the loan.  I took my first loan out in 1993 - a 25 year term which should have matured in 2018.  Due to moving around a lot, and because the SLC lost my deferment forms, I accrued a small amount of arrears.  Then after being diagnosed and unable to work since 2006, Honors and now their debt collectors Link, have been pursuing me to repay the loans, using the loopholes to keep me indebted to them.

Meanwhile, they revealed the only other way to rid myself of this debt would be to have my GP deem me permanently unfit for employment for at least the next 6 years.

In 2014 I asked my GP what he thought of this rule.  He said he felt it was unfair, unethical and arbitrary.  Why six years?  Why apply the same criteria to people with mental illness that is applied to the unfortunate disabled with declining and life limiting conditions?  How could they ask a GP to pronounce upon the future employability of anyone with a mental illness?  He suggested I approach the Citizens Advice Bureau, and they agreed it was an issue that they wanted to refer for the Social Policy team.  In the meantime, they advised they do a budget for me and that I continue to offer them a token payment of £2.00 a month.

Now in 2021, 7 years later, Link collections are on my case again.  I've asked to speak to my new GP, but I'm certain they will say the same thing or similar.

This has many times made me feel suicidal and the pressure is again mounting.  I feel totally trapped.

Does anyone have any similar experience?

Thanks

Jess

[Deleted User]

 You have issue that they are treating you equally to all other disabled people? 

[Deleted User]

Yes.  I do have an issue with being treated the same as all other disabled people where such treatment does not recognise that disability varies in its ability to harm your future.  I suspect that someone who has a disability that is life limiting would feel the same as me for different reasons.

Having a mental illness is often extremely limiting as it has been for me, having not been able to work since 2006.

Thanks for your concern.

[Deleted User]

Jessy75 said:

Yes.  I do have an issue with being treated the same as all other disabled people where such treatment does not recognise that disability varies in its ability to harm your future.  I suspect that someone who has a disability that is life limiting would feel the same as me for different reasons.

Having a mental illness is often extremely limiting as it has been for me, having not been able to work since 2006.

Thanks for your concern.

 It would be discriminatory to treat you differently ie better than others with disabilities. 

[Deleted User]

I don't think you show much understanding, and actually I'm finding your comments pretty upsetting.  But I'll persist in explaining once more.

The SLG and Honours Student Loans have a policy that asks for GPs to predict whether patients have any prospect of returning to work.  No GP is ever going to sign a form stating this in the case for anyone without the most severe illness e.g. something degenerative or life limiting.  Since many of the most severe mental illnesses are variable (better and worse periods) it is impossible for GPs to predict whether a patient is going to be able to return to work in six hours, six days or six years.  This policy therefore actively discriminates against people with mental illnesses and, I'll bet those of us with hidden disabilities that play havock with employment.

Again: I've not been able to work for 15 years due to my mental I'll health, but this doesn't seem to count for anything in terms of policy regarding being released from student debt.

Please be aware that in writing this post, I'm sharing information with strangers that I find difficult to share because being in this position is very upsetting and stressful anyway.  This isn't an invitation for anyone to troll.

[Deleted User]

 Nobody is trolling, i have both a life long neurological condition and a chronic mental health condition, you are not alone. But you are claiming they are discriminating against you because of your mental health.
 When in fact they require the same information for everyone ie no discrimination. You are not being refused unfairly if they require the same information from everyone. 

 Doctors do sign such documents all the time. Medical early retirement is similar. They sign to say people wont work again, ir again in that profession, due to their health including mental health. This can happen at any age, I've seen people in their 30s medically retired due to mental health. Perhaps approach your new doctor. 

 

GeordieGeorge

Jessy75 said:

I don't think you show much understanding, and actually I'm finding your comments pretty upsetting.  But I'll persist in explaining once more.

The SLG and Honours Student Loans have a policy that asks for GPs to predict whether patients have any prospect of returning to work.  No GP is ever going to sign a form stating this in the case for anyone without the most severe illness e.g. something degenerative or life limiting.  Since many of the most severe mental illnesses are variable (better and worse periods) it is impossible for GPs to predict whether a patient is going to be able to return to work in six hours, six days or six years.  This policy therefore actively discriminates against people with mental illnesses and, I'll bet those of us with hidden disabilities that play havock with employment.

Again: I've not been able to work for 15 years due to my mental I'll health, but this doesn't seem to count for anything in terms of policy regarding being released from student debt.

Please be aware that in writing this post, I'm sharing information with strangers that I find difficult to share because being in this position is very upsetting and stressful anyway.  This isn't an invitation for anyone to troll.

Why do you believe that you should be released from your debt? Non-disabled people in the same situation as you are don’t have their debt cleared, so there’s no discrimination here.

If you are not going to be able to work again then you’ll never have to repay it, but if you are able to work again in the future, and earn over the threshold then you’ll not be discriminated against then either, you’ll repay the same as people without a disability.

GeordieGeorge

I’ve just noticed that eleven years ago you said that you were 65 years old. That makes you 76 now, so eligible for your state pension. You don’t need to worry about student loans at this point.

[Deleted User]

I did not say anything about my age actually.

Non disabled people are NOT in the same position as disabled people.  And having a mental health condition does not come with the same issues necessarily as having a physical condition.

I posted this topic because actually I was asking if anyone here has had the same issues as I have.  Perhaps I was stupid to think I could discuss this subject without being judged - it is evidently clear this is not possible.

Shakin_Steve

I am 65 and my profession is a teacher, but owing to my age, I won't be able to teach in the state sector after my contract with my current school ends in August. I do have a very modest teaching pension, alongside my state pension.

Did you post this in 2010 or not?

[Deleted User]

Jessy75 said:

I did not say anything about my age actually.

Non disabled people are NOT in the same position as disabled people.  And having a mental health condition does not come with the same issues necessarily as having a physical condition.

I posted this topic because actually I was asking if anyone here has had the same issues as I have.  Perhaps I was stupid to think I could discuss this subject without being judged - it is evidently clear this is not possible.

 You quite clearly posted your age in previous posts as pointed out above by Steve 

 nobody trolling you but why you think you should get better treatment to other disabled people is beyond me.