[cantankerous]

How is it in the USA? Are you constantly chased for the debt regardless of your circumstances?

There are some exceptions, but generally student loans are something that you're stuck with. That's to say, you can't just shed them in bankruptcy proceedings.

[jiggy2011]

I think it's the same in the UK regards bankruptcy but what happens if you become temporarily unemployed or can only get employment that is very low paid? Is it basically "fuck you, pay me"?

[cantankerous]

On paper yes, but you can't draw blood from a stone. Loans can be adjusted if you can't make payments like any other loan, but your credit will be duly impacted by your inability to meet your obligations. The US doesn't have anything like what you mentioned the UK having for students in general. I think there exist some similar setups for people in particular professions, like teaching, for example, but even then I don't think their benefits are as good as the ones you laid out, but I'm no expert on how all of that works.

[droithomme]

When you don't pay student loans, depending on where you live, you can have your drivers license and any employment or professional licenses revoked. There is also talk of revoking passports.