Paying for OU degree

[Acqndalous]

I'm wondering if anyone can help here. I've registered for an OU access course, which I have already paid for. It starts in Feb.
I'm keen to do a degree afterwards- also with the OU. The funding system has me a bit flummoxed though. I can't afford to pay outright, and I'm not sure if I'm eligible for a student loan as I'm a mature student (53)
From what I've read I think I'm eligible, but unsure whether the rules about paying it back still apply.
I would hope to get my degree before I'm 60, and it would certainly help me progress in my career (social care sector) so I'd expect to be earning over the threshold for paying it back out of my salary.
I'm not sure if it's taking the piss at my age basically as I also understand that loan repayments are cancelled when you reach 60 ( though I intend to work at least till my pension starts)
But what is the situation if I'm unable to?

Tldr: if I start a degree and take out a loan at 54, and achieve it by the time I'm 57/58, would I be expected to pay it all back, and if not would it be in appropriate to start now?

I've just finished the same access course, I really enjoyed it, and it used current (ish) affairs to help me get a hands on critical thinking, exploring evidence as well as basic computer skills. My tutor was fab, even when I had some personal problems. In the las chapter they had some stuff conflating trans and intersex I found a bit and a bit shoehorned in.

Still, I am looking forward to starting my degree course in January.