Need help concerning DSA
Hello!
I am applying to start university September 2016 and have just started going through information concerning loans. I have been suffering with depression and anxiety for nearly 6 years and found out about DSA. However, even though I suffer with a mental-health disorder, I'm confused about why I would be eligible for it as the only expenses I'd have to pay for would be my medication as I will be 19 when I start uni (and I think that is when the NHS stops allowing free prescriptions if I read correctly). I'm not sure if that made any sense, but I feel like maybe it's not worth applying, even though I struggle to attend college a bit of the time because of my depression.
If anybody has gone through anything similar and has any advice to offer, I'd love to hear as I'm confused about what to do.
Thank you!
I am applying to start university September 2016 and have just started going through information concerning loans. I have been suffering with depression and anxiety for nearly 6 years and found out about DSA. However, even though I suffer with a mental-health disorder, I'm confused about why I would be eligible for it as the only expenses I'd have to pay for would be my medication as I will be 19 when I start uni (and I think that is when the NHS stops allowing free prescriptions if I read correctly). I'm not sure if that made any sense, but I feel like maybe it's not worth applying, even though I struggle to attend college a bit of the time because of my depression.
If anybody has gone through anything similar and has any advice to offer, I'd love to hear as I'm confused about what to do.
Thank you!
Original post by foxroots
Hello!
I am applying to start university September 2016 and have just started going through information concerning loans. I have been suffering with depression and anxiety for nearly 6 years and found out about DSA. However, even though I suffer with a mental-health disorder, I'm confused about why I would be eligible for it as the only expenses I'd have to pay for would be my medication as I will be 19 when I start uni (and I think that is when the NHS stops allowing free prescriptions if I read correctly). I'm not sure if that made any sense, but I feel like maybe it's not worth applying, even though I struggle to attend college a bit of the time because of my depression.
If anybody has gone through anything similar and has any advice to offer, I'd love to hear as I'm confused about what to do.
Thank you!
I am applying to start university September 2016 and have just started going through information concerning loans. I have been suffering with depression and anxiety for nearly 6 years and found out about DSA. However, even though I suffer with a mental-health disorder, I'm confused about why I would be eligible for it as the only expenses I'd have to pay for would be my medication as I will be 19 when I start uni (and I think that is when the NHS stops allowing free prescriptions if I read correctly). I'm not sure if that made any sense, but I feel like maybe it's not worth applying, even though I struggle to attend college a bit of the time because of my depression.
If anybody has gone through anything similar and has any advice to offer, I'd love to hear as I'm confused about what to do.
Thank you!
You can only get DSA for expenses you have because you're a student. So you can't get prescription costs, as you would need those even if you weren't studying.
You can get things to help with studying. So if your condition means you will occasionally miss lectures, you might be able to get a note taker to catch up on what you miss. Or if you can't concentrate, you might get a dictaphone to record things. Or if you struggle with anxiety, you might be able to get photocopying paid for so you don't need to take books out of the library and worry about due dates.
Original post by foxroots
Hello!
I am applying to start university September 2016 and have just started going through information concerning loans. I have been suffering with depression and anxiety for nearly 6 years and found out about DSA. However, even though I suffer with a mental-health disorder, I'm confused about why I would be eligible for it as the only expenses I'd have to pay for would be my medication as I will be 19 when I start uni (and I think that is when the NHS stops allowing free prescriptions if I read correctly). I'm not sure if that made any sense, but I feel like maybe it's not worth applying, even though I struggle to attend college a bit of the time because of my depression.
If anybody has gone through anything similar and has any advice to offer, I'd love to hear as I'm confused about what to do.
Thank you!
I am applying to start university September 2016 and have just started going through information concerning loans. I have been suffering with depression and anxiety for nearly 6 years and found out about DSA. However, even though I suffer with a mental-health disorder, I'm confused about why I would be eligible for it as the only expenses I'd have to pay for would be my medication as I will be 19 when I start uni (and I think that is when the NHS stops allowing free prescriptions if I read correctly). I'm not sure if that made any sense, but I feel like maybe it's not worth applying, even though I struggle to attend college a bit of the time because of my depression.
If anybody has gone through anything similar and has any advice to offer, I'd love to hear as I'm confused about what to do.
Thank you!
DSA can provide mental health mentors and other 1:1 support that can help you at uni, they might also pay for a travel allowance if your anxiety was to make travelling to uni more difficult for you. DSA is a grant that is paid to suppliers and for equipment rather than being a cash payment per say
If you had exam arrangements whilst at college, DSA will recommend these. You can only get exam arrangements for long term conditions if you have DSA in place.
You may also get someone to help you in the library (such as finding books and photocopying) if your mental illness means you can't do that.
You may also get someone to help you in the library (such as finding books and photocopying) if your mental illness means you can't do that.
Original post by Juno
You can only get DSA for expenses you have because you're a student. So you can't get prescription costs, as you would need those even if you weren't studying.
You can get things to help with studying. So if your condition means you will occasionally miss lectures, you might be able to get a note taker to catch up on what you miss. Or if you can't concentrate, you might get a dictaphone to record things. Or if you struggle with anxiety, you might be able to get photocopying paid for so you don't need to take books out of the library and worry about due dates.
You can get things to help with studying. So if your condition means you will occasionally miss lectures, you might be able to get a note taker to catch up on what you miss. Or if you can't concentrate, you might get a dictaphone to record things. Or if you struggle with anxiety, you might be able to get photocopying paid for so you don't need to take books out of the library and worry about due dates.
Ah, thank you for clearing that up for me! I was slightly confused because although I knew there was equipment that I could possibly be eligible for, I had spoken to a Careers Advisor at my college who took me to the GOV UK website and said that I might be eligible for a grant. I'm new to the whole idea of loans and grants so it's even more confusing, haha!
Original post by claireestelle
DSA can provide mental health mentors and other 1:1 support that can help you at uni, they might also pay for a travel allowance if your anxiety was to make travelling to uni more difficult for you. DSA is a grant that is paid to suppliers and for equipment rather than being a cash payment per say
Thank you! As I said to Juno, I'm pretty new to even the idea of loans and grants so it's difficult to take it all in and know what's actually going on and most of it goes straight over my head, haha!
Original post by OU Student
If you had exam arrangements whilst at college, DSA will recommend these. You can only get exam arrangements for long term conditions if you have DSA in place.
You may also get someone to help you in the library (such as finding books and photocopying) if your mental illness means you can't do that.
You may also get someone to help you in the library (such as finding books and photocopying) if your mental illness means you can't do that.
Thank you!
Original post by Pathway
In addition to what Juno has said, you might also be given the option of a specialist mental health mentor who can help you with various study related issues that might be difficult due to your MH issues (such as time-keeping, or motivation).
Thank you! You've all made it a lot clearer to me
Original post by foxroots
Ah, thank you for clearing that up for me! I was slightly confused because although I knew there was equipment that I could possibly be eligible for, I had spoken to a Careers Advisor at my college who took me to the GOV UK website and said that I might be eligible for a grant. I'm new to the whole idea of loans and grants so it's even more confusing, haha!
You're eligible for standard student loans and grants because you're a student. These depend on your household (ie parents') income, and everyone gets them whether they're disabled or not. You might find this helpful. You get the money straight into your bank account (the tuition fee loan will go directly to uni) and you can spend it on whatever you like. If you want to blow it all on one pair of shoes you can.
As you're a disabled student, you are then entitled to DSA. This is on top of the standard bits - you don't get any more or less of the standard stuff (actually, I think there is a severe disability extra bit you can get, but from your posts that's unlikely to apply to you anyway).
The DSA entitlement is only for things. You will have an assessment which isn't as scary as it sounds, and they will see what help you need. You would then be given the things they have recommended - so if they say you need a dictaphone then you are given that dictaphone. You don't get the money in the hope that you do that with it. If you're given a helper then the helper magically turns up and their wages are all sorted out without you doing anything except arranging the times you want them.
For things that can't be given, you would have to pay initially and then keep the receipts to make a claim. So if you're given an allowance for printing you would need to keep a log of how much you use. This is explained to you when you get the award.
But they don't just say "you have a disability, here's a million pounds". They assess what you need and that's what you get.
(edited 8 years ago)
Original post by Juno
The DSA entitlement is only for things. You will have an assessment which isn't as scary as it sounds, and they will see what help you need.
Think of the assessment as an informal chat. Because that's what mine have really been.
Original post by Juno
You're eligible for standard student loans and grants because you're a student. These depend on your household (ie parents'
income, and everyone gets them whether they're disabled or not. You might find this helpful. You get the money straight into your bank account (the tuition fee loan will go directly to uni) and you can spend it on whatever you like. If you want to blow it all on one pair of shoes you can.
As you're a disabled student, you are then entitled to DSA. This is on top of the standard bits - you don't get any more or less of the standard stuff (actually, I think there is a severe disability extra bit you can get, but from your posts that's unlikely to apply to you anyway).
The DSA entitlement is only for things. You will have an assessment which isn't as scary as it sounds, and they will see what help you need. You would then be given the things they have recommended - so if they say you need a dictaphone then you are given that dictaphone. You don't get the money in the hope that you do that with it. If you're given a helper then the helper magically turns up and their wages are all sorted out without you doing anything except arranging the times you want them.
For things that can't be given, you would have to pay initially and then keep the receipts to make a claim. So if you're given an allowance for printing you would need to keep a log of how much you use. This is explained to you when you get the award.
But they don't just say "you have a disability, here's a million pounds". They assess what you need and that's what you get.
income, and everyone gets them whether they're disabled or not. You might find this helpful. You get the money straight into your bank account (the tuition fee loan will go directly to uni) and you can spend it on whatever you like. If you want to blow it all on one pair of shoes you can.As you're a disabled student, you are then entitled to DSA. This is on top of the standard bits - you don't get any more or less of the standard stuff (actually, I think there is a severe disability extra bit you can get, but from your posts that's unlikely to apply to you anyway).
The DSA entitlement is only for things. You will have an assessment which isn't as scary as it sounds, and they will see what help you need. You would then be given the things they have recommended - so if they say you need a dictaphone then you are given that dictaphone. You don't get the money in the hope that you do that with it. If you're given a helper then the helper magically turns up and their wages are all sorted out without you doing anything except arranging the times you want them.
For things that can't be given, you would have to pay initially and then keep the receipts to make a claim. So if you're given an allowance for printing you would need to keep a log of how much you use. This is explained to you when you get the award.
But they don't just say "you have a disability, here's a million pounds". They assess what you need and that's what you get.
Honestly, thank you so much for going out of your way to help. I was pretty confused when I looked at the website because even though I knew that there was help on offer e.g. dictaphone, the money part of it caught me off guard and I didn't really understand that that was what paid for all of the things, haha. It's great to know that I'll potentially be able to get a helper though because I've been struggling without a therapist for a year now and I think that would be of great help at uni, so I think that applying would be an idea for me.
Thank you so much again for explaining everything to me, I'm really grateful that you've helped inform me on everything!
Original post by foxroots
Honestly, thank you so much for going out of your way to help. I was pretty confused when I looked at the website because even though I knew that there was help on offer e.g. dictaphone, the money part of it caught me off guard and I didn't really understand that that was what paid for all of the things, haha. It's great to know that I'll potentially be able to get a helper though because I've been struggling without a therapist for a year now and I think that would be of great help at uni, so I think that applying would be an idea for me.
Thank you so much again for explaining everything to me, I'm really grateful that you've helped inform me on everything!
Thank you so much again for explaining everything to me, I'm really grateful that you've helped inform me on everything!
Someone else might be better able to advise you on this as my disability isn't mental health related, but I'm not sure you'll be able to get a therapist under DSA. You would need a therapist whether you attend uni or not.
You can get a student support advisor, who will help with things like study skills, managing deadlines, managing stress - uni work related things that you might struggle with because of your issues.
You can also get a non-medical helper who will help with writing notes, carrying things, supporting you in group situations etc - again, things at uni that you struggle with.
These are all dependent on your assessment. I'm just giving examples of what you might get, but it does depend exactly what is best for you. They look at everyone individually as disabilities vary so much between people.
The uni will probably have counselling services which are available to everyone (disabled or not) which can give you extra support. Your GP will also be able to help, and if you need any referrals to other services they can do this. Many campus based unis will have their own GP surgery on site, so you can transfer your medical arrangements there if you wish.
Original post by Juno
Someone else might be better able to advise you on this as my disability isn't mental health related, but I'm not sure you'll be able to get a therapist under DSA. You would need a therapist whether you attend uni or not.
Yeah, you can't get counselling and related stuff under DSA because it's not a study related cost. In terms of non medical help, DSA pays for things like a note taker (mine also doubled as someone to help me with reading), I had someone to accompany me because as an OU student, I had to travel to tutorials, a study mentor, etc. They won't pay for things that NHS is meant to supply.
Original post by Juno
Someone else might be better able to advise you on this as my disability isn't mental health related, but I'm not sure you'll be able to get a therapist under DSA. You would need a therapist whether you attend uni or not.
You can get a student support advisor, who will help with things like study skills, managing deadlines, managing stress - uni work related things that you might struggle with because of your issues.
You can also get a non-medical helper who will help with writing notes, carrying things, supporting you in group situations etc - again, things at uni that you struggle with.
These are all dependent on your assessment. I'm just giving examples of what you might get, but it does depend exactly what is best for you. They look at everyone individually as disabilities vary so much between people.
The uni will probably have counselling services which are available to everyone (disabled or not) which can give you extra support. Your GP will also be able to help, and if you need any referrals to other services they can do this. Many campus based unis will have their own GP surgery on site, so you can transfer your medical arrangements there if you wish.
You can get a student support advisor, who will help with things like study skills, managing deadlines, managing stress - uni work related things that you might struggle with because of your issues.
You can also get a non-medical helper who will help with writing notes, carrying things, supporting you in group situations etc - again, things at uni that you struggle with.
These are all dependent on your assessment. I'm just giving examples of what you might get, but it does depend exactly what is best for you. They look at everyone individually as disabilities vary so much between people.
The uni will probably have counselling services which are available to everyone (disabled or not) which can give you extra support. Your GP will also be able to help, and if you need any referrals to other services they can do this. Many campus based unis will have their own GP surgery on site, so you can transfer your medical arrangements there if you wish.
Sorry about the confusion, I meant that I had previously seen a therapist for a few years and somebody further up in the thread suggested that I might be able to get a mental health mentor and I just generalised with the whole helper thing. Even then, it sounds like it'd be of help, so I'll apply when I can apply for my Student Loans and see if they think it would be of help to me.
It's worth mentioning that every uni now has a student support department, which will include counsellors. Whilst they're not there to provide a full course of counselling, they're very good at helping you deal with uni-related stresses and anxieties. They're free while you're a student and your tuition fee will help to pay for them, so do use them if you need them.
Try and get to them before a situation becomes critical. Being specialists in the uni environment and student life, they can sometimes suggest workarounds and life hacks which will head off a crisis if you speak to them soon enough.
Try and get to them before a situation becomes critical. Being specialists in the uni environment and student life, they can sometimes suggest workarounds and life hacks which will head off a crisis if you speak to them soon enough.
You should note that a specialist MH mentor doesn't do counselling (although some (most? all??) are trained psychotherapists), so whilst they might be there for someone to talk to their main purpose is to help reduce the impact of your MH condition(s) on your ability to study. You can get counselling from your university though, although I think they're more time-limited. However, if there is a need they shouldn't cut you off after you have had a specific number of sessions. For example, last year when I was waiting to get help from my local mental health team I had counselling for 16 weeks (as opposed to 6) to bridge the gap as I was so unwell but due to home circumstances I couldn't move back home.
But as someone else has already mentioned, your assessment and the outcome of it will be dependent on you and your needs. Personally, I have a physical disability and multiple mental health conditions so what I have been given from my needs assessment (that was over two years ago and was topped-up last year) might be different from what you might be offered.
But as someone else has already mentioned, your assessment and the outcome of it will be dependent on you and your needs. Personally, I have a physical disability and multiple mental health conditions so what I have been given from my needs assessment (that was over two years ago and was topped-up last year) might be different from what you might be offered.
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