Debt studies
Question
I'm a full time student, but I didn't apply for a full student loan. My rent used to be paid by a family member, but for the past couple of months they haven't been able to afford the payments. I'm planning to get a job once my exams are finished in a couple of months - is there any help I can get to pay my rent until then?
Answer
You can apply for a loan from the Student Loans Company (SLC) up to nine months after the start of your course. If you're in time, it might be the best option, since the loans have low rates of interest and don't have to be repaid until you are earning over a certain amount (currently £15,000 a year).
If the SLC is unable to help then you could see if your university has a hardship fund you can apply for, to help you out of this temporary problem. You could also approach a commercial bank for a loan. They will charge a commercial rate of interest so shop around and make sure you don't get into more debt than you can manage.
While you are a student it's not normally possible to claim benefits. Once you have finished university, however, you may be able to apply for Jobseeker's Allowance, Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit. They won't help with paying any arrears you may have accrued, but they could help you stay in the house until you find a job.
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