PLUS loans - amounts, timing?

Forgive me if I am being dense. I did not apply for a PLUS loan last year, but I will need to this year. My questions are:

1) I am ready to send in the Stafford loan bit to my UK school - should I apply for a PLUS loan at the same time? The school's website advises waiting until I find out how much I get in the Stafford loan before applying for a PLUS loan, but it's July...

2) If I do apply for a PLUS loan now, do I really have to state how much I want to borrow in the PLUS loan? The cover letter I have to send to my uni along with my SAR & MPN asks how much I want to take out under each loan. How can I decide this now, without knowing how much I will be offered? Am I missing something here?

3) Sallie Mae customer service said that I can only have ONE loan application for each academic year - did they mean one of each type? (ie, can I have a Stafford and PLUS loan at the same time)?

Sheesh, this was easier last year when I just took out the maximum Stafford loan. Thanks for any advice 

Are you applying to grad school?

If yes, then you aren't eligible for a PLUS loan.

If no, then I have no idea what to tell you.

there are PLUS loans for grad students now, actually.   (they're not the same as undergrad PLUS loans though, which are for parents!)

Once again, I am confused.  I was sure that when I went through the FAFSA process, I saw that they were not an option.

Oh, well - I'm getting used to being confused 

It's a new program. Here's a link to SallieMae's page:

http://www.salliemae.com/get_student_loan/find_student_loan/grad/grad_student_loans/grad_plus/