Refused funding due to SL arrears

[Spectralis]

I went to college in 1989/90/91 and received a £450 loan from the SLC in 90 and 91. I didn't start full time work until 2000 so I was well below the repayment thresh hold but didn't keep in contact with the SLC. In 2003 the SLC got in contact with me claiming that I owed them £1600. I arranged a repayment plan and have stuck to this, re-negotiating it after I lost my job due to unacceptable pressure at work. I currently pay the SLC £5 a month out of my incapacity benefit.

In an attempt to get back into work I need to retrain as it would not be good for my health to go back to the type of work I did before. I want to return to uni to study fine art. I've been accepted on a 4 year degree course at the London Met Uni but the SLC have refused to loan me any money because I'm in arrears. I've applied for a disabled students grant but was told by a student advisor that I'm not eligible for any grants or bursaries because the SLC won't loan me money. Grants and bursaries are contingent on receiving a student loan apparently.

I'm really confused by the whole process of trying to sort this out. From my own experience and after reading on here about the horrors experienced by those who have loans I'm worried about taking out another loan. I'm 47 and thought that if I did take out a loan it would be written off at 65 but this might not be the case so, unless I started to earn huge amounts, I'd spend the rest of my life with up to £50,000 worth of debt hanging over my head.
On the other hand it would be a chance to spend four years devoting time developing something I enjoy doing and could result in moving in a new direction in life. Any advice/comments appreciated.

[old_andrew2007]

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