Disabled Students’ Allowances for 2009 Higher Education entrants

Contents Disabled Students’ Allowances (DSA) – who’s entitled? Key facts Evidence Eligibility Allowances for 2009 entrants Application Further assistance

To help financially overcome extra costs a student might face due to a Mental Health Difficulty, such as Anxiety or Depression; or a Specific Learning Difficulty, like Dyslexia or Autism; or a progressive medical condition such as Multiple Sclerosis, Cancer or HIV; or a sensory impairment which could affect the ability to see or hear; or another physical or medical condition (many are covered) Disabled Students’ Allowances (DSA)

DSA can help with: – The cost of a non-medical helper – Items of specialist equipment – Additional travel costs – Extra costs a student might have Disabled Students’ Allowances (DSA)

DSA is: –Not repayable: it’s a grant, not a loan –Not dependent on income: a student gets it because of their need, not income –Does not affect benefit entitlement: other help a student might get, like Disability Living Allowance, will not be affected by DSA –Not affected by a student’s age –Amounts related to level of need up to specified maximums Key facts about DSA

Evidence required For physical conditions –A report or letter from a student’s GP or Consultant For Specific Learning Difficulties –A post-16 report from  the student’s appropriately qualified Educational Psychologist; or  a teacher who has ‘Approved Teacher Status’ awarded by British Dyslexia Association, or PATOSS

Evidence required (continued) For Mental Health Difficulties –A letter from the student’s GP should suffice –Additional information may be needed from a specialist in terms of how a Mental Health Difficulty would / could impact on a student’s ability to study Costs of gathering the evidence needed –These vary from student to student –Not covered by DSA but may well be recoverable from the university or college’s Access to Learning Fund (ALF) once the student has started their course

Eligibility DSA can be awarded to students studying: Full-time and part-time undergraduate courses; or Certain full-time and part-time postgraduate courses Includes Open University and Distance Learning courses, where a student is studying at least 50% of the full time equivalent Student must prove they have a disability, Mental Health Difficulty, or Specific Learning Difficulty which could affect their ability to study

Eligibility (continued) Students are NOT eligible for DSA if: They are a European Union student only eligible for support with fees They are a sandwich course student on a full-year placement or in receipt of an NHS bursary

Eligibility (continued) Postgraduate students are not eligible for DSA if they receive: An NHS or Social Work bursary (the student may well be entitled to other help from their funding or awarding body) A bursary or award from a Research Council A bursary from their university or college which includes support that is equal to DSA

Specialist equipment allowance — up to £5,161 for entire course Non-medical helper’s allowance — up to £20,520 per year General disabled students’ allowance – up to £1,724 per year Spending on travel costs over and above those which any other student may incur – the cap on this is unlimited [subject to parliamentary approval] Allowances 2009/2010 — Full-time

Specialist equipment allowance — up to £5,161 for entire course Non-medical helper’s allowance — percentage of the full-time rate, depending on workload of the course, up to £15,390 per year General allowance — a percentage, as above, up to a maximum of £1,293 per year Reasonable travel costs [subject to parliamentary approval] Allowances 2009/2010 — Part-time

One allowance to meet all costs of up to £10,260 per year for both full-time and part-time postgraduate students The amount awarded depends on the Needs Assessment report [subject to parliamentary approval] Allowances 2009/2010 — Postgraduate

Students should apply for student finance as soon as they can, to avoid delay, and tick DSA box when applying Easier & quicker if written evidence is submitted with main application Once eligibility is confirmed, student will be asked to attend a Needs Assessment (cost of this is met automatically by DSA) Application Process (1)

Application Process (2) On receipt of a Needs Assessment, the student will be informed of the level of help available from DSA and how to arrange this The student may purchase any authorised equipment before their course starts but may be asked to repay amounts, or return equipment, if they withdraw or do not attend Open University and NHS students apply to their awarding authority for DSA related support

Further Assistance Student Finance England – SKILL: National Bureau for Students with Disabilities – Student finance, welfare & mental health well-being officer –Details from the university or college website –Students’ union / association will normally also have an independent professional advisor who can help

Any Questions?