Written ministerial statement on changes to Disabled Student Allowance (DSA) for 2015
Copy below of written ministerial statement on changes to Disabled Student Allowance (DSA) for 2015/16 academic year new applications.
http://www.parliament.uk/documents/commons-vote-office/April%202014/7%20April%202014/1.BIS-HE-Student-Support.pdf
http://www.parliament.uk/documents/commons-vote-office/April%202014/7%20April%202014/1.BIS-HE-Student-Support.pdf
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Further detail as to how DSA for 2015/16 year applicants will change:
Source: http://www.practitioners.slc.co.uk/media/744663/ssin_01-15_apr2014.pdf
• DSA funding will no longer be provided for standard specification computers, software, and associated peripherals.
• DSA funding will no longer be provided for warranties and insurance associated with standard specification computers.
• DSA funding will no longer be provided for higher specification and/or higher cost computers where they are required solely because of the mode of delivery of the course.
• DSA funding will no longer be provided for higher specification and/or higher cost computers where they are required solely because of the mode of delivery of the course.
• DSA funding will continue to be provided for support for students with Specific Learning Difficulties that are more complex.DSA funding will continue to be provided for support for students with Specific Learning Difficulties that are more complex.
• Funding will no longer be provided for additional costs of accommodation where the accommodation is provided by the HEI or an agent of the HEI.
• Funding will no longer be provided for general consumable items
Source: http://www.practitioners.slc.co.uk/media/744663/ssin_01-15_apr2014.pdf
• DSA funding will no longer be provided for standard specification computers, software, and associated peripherals.
• DSA funding will no longer be provided for warranties and insurance associated with standard specification computers.
• DSA funding will no longer be provided for higher specification and/or higher cost computers where they are required solely because of the mode of delivery of the course.
• DSA funding will no longer be provided for higher specification and/or higher cost computers where they are required solely because of the mode of delivery of the course.
• DSA funding will continue to be provided for support for students with Specific Learning Difficulties that are more complex.DSA funding will continue to be provided for support for students with Specific Learning Difficulties that are more complex.
• Funding will no longer be provided for additional costs of accommodation where the accommodation is provided by the HEI or an agent of the HEI.
• Funding will no longer be provided for general consumable items
Blimey. That doesn't leave much that's actually going to be covered any more. This sounds like it's going to affect the majority of people currently claiming DSA.
Under those rules, I wouldn't have got any help at all. I would've had to plead my own case to my uni to do exams on a controlled PC rather than handwriting them - and without a DSA assessment to back me up. This is going to push a lot of assessment work onto unis who won't be able to afford the extra staff the workload increase will cause.
I can't see this ending well for a lot of people.
Under those rules, I wouldn't have got any help at all. I would've had to plead my own case to my uni to do exams on a controlled PC rather than handwriting them - and without a DSA assessment to back me up. This is going to push a lot of assessment work onto unis who won't be able to afford the extra staff the workload increase will cause.
I can't see this ending well for a lot of people.
I have a feeling this is in reaction (at least in part) to people buying extortionately-priced Macs.
I bet they'd save an enormous amount of money if they said you weren't allowed to buy Apple products with governmental stipends.
If it were my choice, they'd be illegal; Apple are scum.
I bet they'd save an enormous amount of money if they said you weren't allowed to buy Apple products with governmental stipends.
If it were my choice, they'd be illegal; Apple are scum.
Original post by Iridescenzo
I have a feeling this is in reaction (at least in part) to people buying extortionately-priced Macs.
But "people" don't get to buy anything for themselves. Students don't get to choose what they're provided with. The formal DSA assessment will specify what - if any - equipment is appropriate for the student and course. Nobody's given a blank cheque to go out and buy what they fancy, that they can then bill back to the taxpayer.
Macs are only provided if the formal assessment concludes that there's no viable alternative e.g. for heavily computer graphics-based courses where the standard platform will be Mac-based and coursework has to be submitted in a MAC-specific format. That's a tiny minority of students who are provided with computer equipment under DSA.
Doubtless the publicity about this hasn't helped, but it's been misreported, misunderstood and then blown out of all proportion.
(edited 10 years ago)
Original post by Iridescenzo
I have a feeling this is in reaction (at least in part) to people buying extortionately-priced Macs.
I bet they'd save an enormous amount of money if they said you weren't allowed to buy Apple products with governmental stipends.
If it were my choice, they'd be illegal; Apple are scum.
I bet they'd save an enormous amount of money if they said you weren't allowed to buy Apple products with governmental stipends.
If it were my choice, they'd be illegal; Apple are scum.
Uninformed drivel as to how DSA operates.
According to data released as part of the statement '96% of students already have their own computer'. Yet this figure comes from a marketing campaign conducted by Endsleigh insurance on behalf of and using the NUS student database. The survey was emailed to respondents.
According to HESA, there were 2,340,275 undergrads and postgrads registered for the 2012/3 academic year, the same year the Endsleigh/NUS survey was undertaken which produced the 96% figure. Only 1704 students responded to the survey.
According to HESA, there were 2,340,275 undergrads and postgrads registered for the 2012/3 academic year, the same year the Endsleigh/NUS survey was undertaken which produced the 96% figure. Only 1704 students responded to the survey.
Original post by balotelli12
Uninformed drivel as to how DSA operates.
Sorry, I was (somewhat unsatisfactorily, I realise) referring to courses in which owning a Mac is specifically stipulated. I know a few people who have received stipends in this regard.
Original post by NJones
According to data released as part of the statement '96% of students already have their own computer'. Yet this figure comes from a marketing campaign conducted by Endsleigh insurance on behalf of and using the NUS student database. The survey was emailed to respondents.
According to HESA, there were 2,340,275 undergrads and postgrads registered for the 2012/3 academic year, the same year the Endsleigh/NUS survey was undertaken which produced the 96% figure. Only 1704 students responded to the survey.
According to HESA, there were 2,340,275 undergrads and postgrads registered for the 2012/3 academic year, the same year the Endsleigh/NUS survey was undertaken which produced the 96% figure. Only 1704 students responded to the survey.
Perhaps all students who have benefited from their DSA allowance & the equipment & support offered to them could write down there experiences so as to protect the scheme for future students.
Its a cost cutting excersise but at what expense? Less 'Disabled' students able to complete a degree surely cannot be a good thing for the country as a whole?
Its a cost cutting excersise but at what expense? Less 'Disabled' students able to complete a degree surely cannot be a good thing for the country as a whole?
This is ridiculous.
I thought the whole point of the DSA was for equality purposes... to ensure that disabled people could still get a good education.
Would this not have a possible knock on effect? As in, at present, disabled students receive this support, to enable them to be on par with other students, so they can achieve the same... if disabled students do not receive this support, they would not achieve the same, thus universities would not give them offer, if they stipulate within their UCAS application that they are disabled? I am not sure if this is covered by the Equality Act, like employment is.
I thought the whole point of the DSA was for equality purposes... to ensure that disabled people could still get a good education.
Would this not have a possible knock on effect? As in, at present, disabled students receive this support, to enable them to be on par with other students, so they can achieve the same... if disabled students do not receive this support, they would not achieve the same, thus universities would not give them offer, if they stipulate within their UCAS application that they are disabled? I am not sure if this is covered by the Equality Act, like employment is.
Original post by Knalchemist
This is ridiculous.
I thought the whole point of the DSA was for equality purposes... to ensure that disabled people could still get a good education.
Would this not have a possible knock on effect? As in, at present, disabled students receive this support, to enable them to be on par with other students, so they can achieve the same... if disabled students do not receive this support, they would not achieve the same, thus universities would not give them offer, if they stipulate within their UCAS application that they are disabled? I am not sure if this is covered by the Equality Act, like employment is.
I thought the whole point of the DSA was for equality purposes... to ensure that disabled people could still get a good education.
Would this not have a possible knock on effect? As in, at present, disabled students receive this support, to enable them to be on par with other students, so they can achieve the same... if disabled students do not receive this support, they would not achieve the same, thus universities would not give them offer, if they stipulate within their UCAS application that they are disabled? I am not sure if this is covered by the Equality Act, like employment is.
It read to me like the government will argue that the same level of support is still available. It's just that from Sep 2015 it will be provided by universities and colleges instead of being funded by the taxpayer via DSA.
This is what they've done with care for the elderly. Central government funding has been cut and local government are now responsible. The fact that local government don't have the extra resources to cope, is something that central government repeatedly says isn't their problem as all local councils are responsible for managing their own budgets independently.
Big Society in action i.e. devil take the hindmost.
Through if you read it this will only effect those applying for the first time. Not people currently on dsa.
Posted from TSR Mobile
Posted from TSR Mobile
Original post by Klix88
It read to me like the government will argue that the same level of support is still available. It's just that from Sep 2015 it will be provided by universities and colleges instead of being funded by the taxpayer via DSA.
This is what they've done with care for the elderly. Central government funding has been cut and local government are now responsible. The fact that local government don't have the extra resources to cope, is something that central government repeatedly says isn't their problem as all local councils are responsible for managing their own budgets independently.
Big Society in action i.e. devil take the hindmost.
This is what they've done with care for the elderly. Central government funding has been cut and local government are now responsible. The fact that local government don't have the extra resources to cope, is something that central government repeatedly says isn't their problem as all local councils are responsible for managing their own budgets independently.
Big Society in action i.e. devil take the hindmost.
If it's then being funded by Universities, who are already complaining that the fee's are enough... would there be pressure to raise the fee cap again? It's like on vicious circle haha.
Original post by balotelli12
Uninformed drivel as to how DSA operates.
Something has suddenly got out of control. 23% rise in claiming students over 3 years; 30% rise in costs.
I am not close enough to the subject to know what has caused this, but it is unsurprising that the alarm bells have rung in government.
Once the light has been shone upon this, it is no shock that universities' "nice little earner" of charging higher rents for disabled accommodation and re-charging the difference back to DSA is being stopped.
Original post by nulli tertius
Something has suddenly got out of control. 23% rise in claiming students over 3 years; 30% rise in costs.
I am not close enough to the subject to know what has caused this, but it is unsurprising that the alarm bells have rung in government.
Once the light has been shone upon this, it is no shock that universities' "nice little earner" of charging higher rents for disabled accommodation and re-charging the difference back to DSA is being stopped.
I am not close enough to the subject to know what has caused this, but it is unsurprising that the alarm bells have rung in government.
Once the light has been shone upon this, it is no shock that universities' "nice little earner" of charging higher rents for disabled accommodation and re-charging the difference back to DSA is being stopped.
Only the most severely affected - a tiny minority - will need costly specialist accommodation, and in any case, that type of help will remain covered under DSA according to the linked doc.
You have to ask exactly how much money we're talking about saving overall. Even with the recent increase in claimant numbers, it's going to be a small amount for most people. Supplying a laptop will average out at a few hundred pounds a year over three years.
It's just another example of grabbing scraps from people who need help. Making one large company pay its due tax, would probably cover the current cost of provision many times over.
Original post by Klix88
Only the most severely affected - a tiny minority - will need costly specialist accommodation, and in any case, that type of help will remain covered under DSA according to the linked doc.
Yes, but I think what has been happening is that ground floor rooms, or rooms with "standard" disabled adaptations have been charged out at a higher price to attract DSA funding.
That is what this means:
HEIs are expected to provide accommodation suitable for disabled students as part of their duties under the Equality Act. Institutions should be able to meet the needs of the vast majority of students with disabilities. The cost of such accommodation should not be passed onto the student.
You have to ask exactly how much money we're talking about saving overall. Even with the recent increase in claimant numbers, it's going to be a small amount for most people. Supplying a laptop will average out at a few hundred pounds a year over three years.
It's just another example of grabbing scraps from people who need help. Making one large company pay its due tax, would probably cover the current cost of provision many times over.
It's just another example of grabbing scraps from people who need help. Making one large company pay its due tax, would probably cover the current cost of provision many times over.
I am sorry but the idea that we take an income stream or an expenditure we don't like and fund all the goodies we want to give away is nonsense. It is really no different to the line that if we cut overseas aid, we can halve NHS waiting lists, have 3 more aircraft carriers and abolish tuition fees.
DSA is a non-means-tested benefit that has become something of a backhanded grant to universities on accommodation. There was a hell of a lot in the announcement about computing which suggests that there is also a specific problem there.
Original post by Knalchemist
Would this not have a possible knock on effect? As in, at present, disabled students receive this support, to enable them to be on par with other students, so they can achieve the same... if disabled students do not receive this support, they would not achieve the same, thus universities would not give them offer, if they stipulate within their UCAS application that they are disabled? I am not sure if this is covered by the Equality Act, like employment is.
Would this not have a possible knock on effect? As in, at present, disabled students receive this support, to enable them to be on par with other students, so they can achieve the same... if disabled students do not receive this support, they would not achieve the same, thus universities would not give them offer, if they stipulate within their UCAS application that they are disabled? I am not sure if this is covered by the Equality Act, like employment is.
The Equality Act covers those in education as well as employment. It replaces both the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 and the Special Educational Needs and Disability Act 2001. Universities are service providers also. If a university rejects an applicant on the grounds of disability, without justification, they have discriminated against the applicant.
Original post by Klix88
I can't see this ending well for a lot of people.
I can't see this ending well for a lot of people.
I already have my degree, though I expect I'll be doing at least one more degree during my lifetime (perhaps as early as 2016). Under these proposals I'd be entitled to very little. All I really benefit from is additional money for books and photocopying and a voice recorder. I already had a PC when I began my degree so a new one wasn't provided. By the time of my second assessment my PC had given up so I was provided with a laptop. Either way, personally I don't mind paying for my own PC or laptop.
It is the additional money for consumables, and some non-medical helper support, which is the greatest worry.
I'm also unsure what impact this will have on my job as an Educational Support Worker.
Original post by nulli tertius
Something has suddenly got out of control. 23% rise in claiming students over 3 years.
This can at least partly be explained by an increase in the number of students with disabilities being accepted into university, and greater knowledge of DSA (helped by sites such as TSR).
Original post by nulli tertius
There was a hell of a lot in the announcement about computing which suggests that there is also a specific problem there.
There was a hell of a lot in the announcement about computing which suggests that there is also a specific problem there.
Not particularly. I see NJones has mentioned the 96% statistic being taken from an online survery, with a small response rate. Of course those with access to a computer are more likely to respond.
Besides, even if a person has a computer it does not mean that computer is suitable for their specific study needs.
Original post by River85
This can at least partly be explained by an increase in the number of students with disabilities being accepted into university, and greater knowledge of DSA (helped by sites such as TSR).
This can at least partly be explained by an increase in the number of students with disabilities being accepted into university, and greater knowledge of DSA (helped by sites such as TSR).
I am pretty sceptical about a significant rise in numbers 2008 to 2011.
Increased awareness is likely to impact on the most marginal of applicants. The more severe the disability, the greater the likelihood that a person with that disability would have been made aware of the existence of that help in past years. I don't think anyone was finding lots of blind students unaware of DSA. One would expect need and thus expenditure to be directly proportional to severity of disability. Therefore one would also expect increased numbers to result in a fall in the cost per student of assistance. Bearing in mind labour cost has not been increasing by much in the recession and generally speaking the cost of technology is falling, one would also expect downward pressure on the budget. Yet the rise in the cost of provision is well outstripping the increase in numbers.
Not particularly. I see NJones has mentioned the 96% statistic being taken from an online survery, with a small response rate. Of course those with access to a computer are more likely to respond.
Crap data doesn't mean that what the data seeks to prove isn't true. The result seems to be consistent with anecdotal observation. It is also consistent with statistics on internet usage http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/dcp171778_353031.pdf Remember the student population is obviously skewed by age, wealth and educational attainment.
Besides, even if a person has a computer it does not mean that computer is suitable for their specific study needs.
I think that is a hard call. It is very unlikely that the computer was unsuitable for their previous studies and most degree courses build on very similar skills to what students have studied before. Where there is a difference is the preference for Apple computers in the graphic arts. Many VIth formers, for whom graphic arts form perhaps at most a third of their studies, will stick with Windows based computing, which has generally been more widely used for word and number-based applications. One of the things this change seems to be driving at, is not funding a Mac for disabled design students whose non-disabled fellow students have to rely on grants from the Parental Charity.
Whilst I'll put my hand up and say I had liked getting a free laptop (allbeit not a Mac) from DSA when it may not strictly be needed, I do worry about the changes being proposed. In particular the following, and will try not to repeat too much what others have already quite rightly said:
1. DSA will not generally be funding software which could help disabled students in
addition to computer insurance/warranties.
2. DSA not going to some restrict technology aids (depending if human help is also provided for the same task) and completely stop funding consumables. Ths is going to leave some disabled students in significant disadvantage than currently, especially if their uni/college don't provide a set amount of consumables (e.g. 1000 free sheets for printing).
3. DSA not funding "support workers" (they come in different names) for many students will put the focus much more on the unis. This may be good in order to give unis the kick up the backside but I worry that for quite a lot of students it may not be so advantagous as the unis' support workers may be more inclined to be trained by their employers on the more "common" (in a nice way) disabilities and difficulties that the unis are presented with. Leading to inequality and possible siginificant disadvantages for disabled students with different/invisible/complex disabilities and difficulties. I could be wrong on this!
The unis could also home on their support workers and dissuade them providing "non-core" support that disabled students in the past may have recieved and benefited from (e.g. library help, emotional support etc).
4. I did kind of thought some unis may be using under-hand tactics for providing disabled accomedation but some of the replies by other posters have really suprised me. In a way it might be good for unis to stop using some of these tactics (i.e. another poster said about "standard" disabled accomodation) and provide reasonably adapted accomodation for students based on their individual needs but I don't think this going to happen across the bar; unless for some more complex (saying this in a nice way again) cases. But of course one person's reasonable is another's unreasonable. In some ways unis need to step up to actively applying the Public Sector Equality Duty and Human Rights Act 1998 in (what I would think but is not always legally the case) of their public functions (i.e. in this case, disabled student accomodation).
Whilst HM's Gov may continue providing for the costs of disabled accomodation for such students in the private and third rented sectors (suprise, suprise - woops political opinion coming through), this is not always practical nor the best option for students as they may want to be near the uni campus where the student buzz is and not a few or further miles away.
The cinic in me is also thinking that this will also put extra strain as per usual on social services, NHS etc. Some disabled students may want to persue things like Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG) for getting accomodation adapted to their individual needs, even if this is for their time as an uni student and (again not legal opinon) but prehaps changes being brought in the Care Bill may help with this (i.e. provision being put in for another council to start the process of providing support when one person wants to leave their current location and come and live in the [new] council's area...allbeit for the amount of time I do not think has been stipulated. Though I do know for DFG currently in England that you are expected to live in the property for next five years, don't know if this applies to those renting but may do.
Disabled students who are care leavers may be able to use to persuade their council to use their legal functions to help in the affected areas.
Anyway side tracking, what I trying to say here is that there may be ways to mitigate the blows of the reduction in the support of DSA however as per usual the disabled student will need to be good at advocating for their needs with the different authorities and will need to be emotionally resilient at times; both of which are easier said than done.
5. Restricting access to DSA for students with a disability under the Equality Act 2010 definition. Some students with Dyslexia, Dyscalculia or more invisible or noticeable difficulties may inevitably slip through the cracks in the newly proposed DSA system.
Generally I'm not a huge fan of DSA not because it does help a lot of students with disabilities and difficulties but I feel it's rigidness (i.e. funding costs caps etc) do not really help disabled students with more intensive needs. Anywho, I do call in the favour of keeping it as it is.
technoo.
1. DSA will not generally be funding software which could help disabled students in
addition to computer insurance/warranties.
2. DSA not going to some restrict technology aids (depending if human help is also provided for the same task) and completely stop funding consumables. Ths is going to leave some disabled students in significant disadvantage than currently, especially if their uni/college don't provide a set amount of consumables (e.g. 1000 free sheets for printing).
3. DSA not funding "support workers" (they come in different names) for many students will put the focus much more on the unis. This may be good in order to give unis the kick up the backside but I worry that for quite a lot of students it may not be so advantagous as the unis' support workers may be more inclined to be trained by their employers on the more "common" (in a nice way) disabilities and difficulties that the unis are presented with. Leading to inequality and possible siginificant disadvantages for disabled students with different/invisible/complex disabilities and difficulties. I could be wrong on this!
The unis could also home on their support workers and dissuade them providing "non-core" support that disabled students in the past may have recieved and benefited from (e.g. library help, emotional support etc).
4. I did kind of thought some unis may be using under-hand tactics for providing disabled accomedation but some of the replies by other posters have really suprised me. In a way it might be good for unis to stop using some of these tactics (i.e. another poster said about "standard" disabled accomodation) and provide reasonably adapted accomodation for students based on their individual needs but I don't think this going to happen across the bar; unless for some more complex (saying this in a nice way again) cases. But of course one person's reasonable is another's unreasonable. In some ways unis need to step up to actively applying the Public Sector Equality Duty and Human Rights Act 1998 in (what I would think but is not always legally the case) of their public functions (i.e. in this case, disabled student accomodation).
Whilst HM's Gov may continue providing for the costs of disabled accomodation for such students in the private and third rented sectors (suprise, suprise - woops political opinion coming through), this is not always practical nor the best option for students as they may want to be near the uni campus where the student buzz is and not a few or further miles away.
The cinic in me is also thinking that this will also put extra strain as per usual on social services, NHS etc. Some disabled students may want to persue things like Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG) for getting accomodation adapted to their individual needs, even if this is for their time as an uni student and (again not legal opinon) but prehaps changes being brought in the Care Bill may help with this (i.e. provision being put in for another council to start the process of providing support when one person wants to leave their current location and come and live in the [new] council's area...allbeit for the amount of time I do not think has been stipulated. Though I do know for DFG currently in England that you are expected to live in the property for next five years, don't know if this applies to those renting but may do.
Disabled students who are care leavers may be able to use to persuade their council to use their legal functions to help in the affected areas.
Anyway side tracking, what I trying to say here is that there may be ways to mitigate the blows of the reduction in the support of DSA however as per usual the disabled student will need to be good at advocating for their needs with the different authorities and will need to be emotionally resilient at times; both of which are easier said than done.
5. Restricting access to DSA for students with a disability under the Equality Act 2010 definition. Some students with Dyslexia, Dyscalculia or more invisible or noticeable difficulties may inevitably slip through the cracks in the newly proposed DSA system.
Generally I'm not a huge fan of DSA not because it does help a lot of students with disabilities and difficulties but I feel it's rigidness (i.e. funding costs caps etc) do not really help disabled students with more intensive needs. Anywho, I do call in the favour of keeping it as it is.
technoo.
(edited 10 years ago)
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