When are student loans written off? UK repayment plans

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The write-off date depends on the repayment plan and when the first loan for the course was paid. UK income-contingent loans include Plans 1, 2, 4 and 5, plus the separate Postgraduate Loan plan. Older mortgage-style loans have different terms.

Find out which plan applies

Check your Student Loans Company account and the official plan guide. The funding body, course type and course start date matter; simply studying in England or starting after September 2012 does not automatically put everyone on Plan 2. More than one plan can apply to the same borrower.

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When is the balance normally written off?

Under current rules, Plan 2 normally ends 30 years after the April repayment first became due, and Plan 5 after 40 years. The England/Wales Postgraduate Loan term is 30 years. Plan 1 loans first paid from September 2006 normally have a 25-year term; earlier ones end at age 65.

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For Plan 4, loans first paid from August 2007 normally end 30 years after the relevant April. Earlier loans end at 65 or after 30 years, whichever is sooner. These summaries concern the plan rules, not a promise that arrears or breaches of loan obligations can be ignored. Check your account and the official cancellation rules.

What if I cannot work or the borrower dies?

SLC cancels a borrower’s loan after death once notified with the required evidence. Cancellation may also be available where illness or disability means the borrower can no longer work and the relevant benefit and evidence conditions are met. A temporary illness or low salary alone does not automatically qualify; contact SLC for an assessment.

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How do repayments work?

Income-contingent repayments depend on earnings above the applicable plan threshold, rather than a fixed monthly repayment of the balance. Employed borrowers usually pay through payroll and self-employed borrowers through Self Assessment. If you leave the UK for more than three months, update SLC and follow the overseas assessment process.

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Thresholds and interest rates can change. Use the current figures in GOV.UK’s repayment guide, not a 2023 table. The date repayments first become due is also plan-dependent; it is not always simply the April after graduation.

Can I claim an overpayment refund?

A refund may be available if payments began too early, the wrong plan was used, the loan was already cleared or annual income was below the relevant threshold. Keep payslips and check the SLC refund process. Voluntary extra repayments are treated differently and are not normally refundable simply because you later change your mind.

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Should I pay extra?

Extra payments can reduce the balance but may not save money if the remaining loan would otherwise be cancelled. Compare the expected income-based repayments, interest and write-off date before using savings. Keep enough for essentials and consider more expensive borrowing first.

What is the Welsh partial cancellation scheme?

Eligible full-time undergraduate Maintenance Loans from Student Finance Wales may qualify for up to £1,500 cancellation when repayment starts. It is not available to every Welsh borrower or every type of loan, and an early voluntary payment can affect the amount cancelled. Check the scheme rules before paying just to trigger it.

Does a student loan affect credit applications?

Income-contingent student loans do not normally appear on consumer credit reports, but their repayments can affect a mortgage lender’s affordability assessment. Older mortgage-style borrowing and legal enforcement issues need separate consideration. The absence of a loan from a report does not mean it can be omitted when a lender asks about commitments.