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Repaying your student loan

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When your student loan gets written off or cancelled

When your student loan gets written off depends on which repayment plan you’re on.

If you’re a full-time student from Wales, you may be able to get £1,500 of your Maintenance Loan written off.

When Plan 1 loans get written off

When your Plan 1 loan gets written off depends on when you were paid the first loan for your course.

If you were paid the first loan on or after 1 September 2006

The loans for your course will be written off 25 years after the April you were first due to repay.

If you were paid the first loan before 1 September 2006

The loans for your course will be written off when you’re 65.

When Plan 2 loans get written off

Plan 2 loans are written off 30 years after the April you were first due to repay.

When Plan 4 loans get written off

When your Plan 4 loan gets written off depends on when you were paid the first loan for your course.

If you were paid the first loan on or after 1 August 2007

The loans for your course will be written off 30 years after the April you were first due to repay.

If you were paid the first loan before 1 August 2007

The loans for your course will be written off when you’re 65, or 30 years after the April you were first due to repay – whichever comes first.

When Plan 5 loans get written off

Plan 5 loans are written off 40 years after the April you were first due to repay.

When Postgraduate Loans get written off

If you’re a student from England or Wales, your Postgraduate Loan will be written off 30 years after the April you were first due to repay.

If you’re a postgraduate student from Northern Ireland, you’re on Plan 1.

If you’re a postgraduate student from Scotland, you’re on Plan 4.

If someone with a student loan dies

The Student Loans Company (SLC) will cancel the person’s student loan.

You need to let SLC know that the person has died and provide evidence (for example an original death certificate), as well as the person’s customer reference number (CRN).

If you can no longer work because of illness or disability

SLC may be able to cancel your loan if you claim certain disability benefits. You’ll need to provide evidence (for example a letter from the benefits agency) and your customer reference number (CRN).

View a printable version of the whole guide

This page is Part of Start a new job: step by step

  1. Step 1 Get your National Insurance number

    You'll usually need your National Insurance number when you start your new job.

    1. Find your National Insurance number
    1. Apply for a National Insurance number if you do not already have one

  2. Step 2 Accept the job offer

    The offer might be ‘conditional’ or ‘provisional’, which means you may need to give further details to your new employer or pass pre-employment checks.

    1. Find out about your rights when accepting a job offer

  3. Step 3 Share your details for any employer checks

    Give your new employer what they need to complete any pre-employment checks.

    1. Find out what checks your employer can make
    1. Find out how to prove your right to work
    1. Find out about criminal record checks

  4. Step 4 Review your employment contract

    Your new employer should give you an employment contract. Check the terms before you agree to it.

    1. Find out about employment contracts

  5. and If you're leaving a job, hand in your notice

    Tell your current employer that you’re going to leave and when your last day will be. This is known as handing in your notice.

    1. Find out how to hand in your notice

    When you hand in your notice, ask your employer when you’ll get your P45.

    1. Find out about the P45

  6. Step 5 Prepare your personal information for your first day

    To get paid, you’ll need to give your new employer:

  7. Step 6 Give your P45 to your new employer

    Your new employer will use your P45 to work out how much tax to take from your pay.

    1. Find out about the P45

  8. or If you do not have a P45, fill in the starter checklist

    Use the starter checklist to give your employer details they need to work out your pay and tax.

    1. Fill in the starter checklist

  9. Step 7 Check your first payslip

    Your employer must give you a payslip on or before payday.

    1. Find out what should be on your payslip

    It’s your responsibility to make sure you’re paying the right amount of tax.

    1. Check if the tax on your payslip is correct

    If you think the tax is wrong, your tax code may be incorrect.

    1. Find out what to do if you think your tax code is wrong