If I take a break from studying for a year, how will that affect my student loan?

Hi, I am considering taking a break from studying for a year as I am on my Year Abroad and having an awful time and feeling severely depressed. I have a maintenance loan and tuition fees loan for this year, and I have spent a lot of money to get set up in my country abroad and will have to spend even more if I drop out.
Will I have to pay back the maintenance loan for this year (immidiately) as I am not technically studying anymore, or do I get to keep it to cover costs, and also be able to get a maintenance loan for the next 2 years (my 2nd attempt at a year abroad and then my final year) or will I only be able to get a maintenance loan for one of those years?
Thank you

Hi there,
If you decide to suspend your studies you won't need to repay anything to us right away. If you're overpaid at all we'll just deduct this from your new entitlement when you return.
You're entitled to one additional year of funding from us. Have you ever had to repeat a year before?
Thanks, Graeme

Hi there, to help answer you question can you please advise if you have suspended your studies or completely withdrawn from your studies?
Stephen

Hi kesjames,
You indicated that you may have been paid already for your study abroad this year (students can be paid in advance at the start of the academic year studying abroad). If this is the case, you would have been overpaid if you do not attend this year at all as you have been paid in advance. As advised, if you do not attend this year, the overpayment would just be removed from your future entitlement once you return to study.
Thanks, Clare

ok thank you, and i have attended a part of it and have paid for necessary food, housing, flights, and now i am dropping out, and delaying my year abroad to a later year. does this still count as an overpayment?
thank you