Guide to the Disabled Students' Allowance

Guide to the Disabled Student's Allowance

If you have a disability, a specific learning difficulty or some sort of debilitating illness you may be entitled to receive a Disabled Student Allowance while at University.

What is DSA?

DSAs are provided to cover any extra study-related costs incurred by your disability. They are not means tested, and they are an extra added to any loan or grant you take out. The DSA comes in the form of monetary and/or technical assistance according to your specific requirements. Any money you receive has to be used towards educational costs.

Who is eligible for DSA?

You’re eligible for support if you can provide written proof of your condition from a medical professional. If don’t have this, getting an assessment will have to be your first step. You can ask your college or school to help you get an assessment, or you can make an appointment with a doctor at your surgery.
Aside from this, you need to be enrolled for either:
a) a full time HE course lasting at least a year (including long-distance)
b) a part time course lasting at least a year that doesn’t take more than twice as long to complete as its full time equivalent.

NB: Post grad students receiving certain awards or bursaries are not eligible. See here for more info. NHS bursary students see here

What sort of help can I get through DSA?

You can use DSAs towards specialist equipment (eg computers, dictaphones, special software..)
a non-medical helper (note-taker or reader), extra travelling costs and any other costs incurred by your disability while studying.
After you have applied you will be required to have a Needs Assessment in which a professional will assess your particular requirements and help to identify what support to give.

To give you an idea, full time students can receive up to £4905 towards specialist equipment for the entire course, £12,420 a year towards a non-medical helper and £1640 a year as a general disabled student’s allowance.
(See above link for more info)

How do I apply for it?

You will need to fill out the DSA1 form. Usually you will be sent this after checking a box indicating your intention of applying for DSA when applying for your student grant and/or loan.
Alternatively you can download the form from the site linked when it is released in a few weeks time.
The application gets sent to your Local Education Authority, same as your student grant and loan application.

Needs Assessment

If your application is approved, your LEA will write to you and ask you to have a Needs Assessment at an approved Access Centre. The LEA should have a list of these centres. The assessment will ascertain your needs and determine what support, resources and equipment will be appropriate for you.

Here is a list of Assessment Centres.

Lastly

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If you’ve already started University and failed to apply for DSA to start with, its not too late. If you can provide evidence, you can apply for DSA at any point in your course through the first link.

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Follow the first link and download the ‘Bridging the Gap’ pdf for much more detailed information on available support.

(edited 6 years ago)

Reply 1

River85

DSA is the grant given to students with disabilities. It covers a range of costs including equipment, non-medical helper, books including autdio books, consumables and (in some cases) travel costs.

When applying to university you should have ticked the box on the UCAS form indicating that you have a disability or medical condition. If you did do this then don't worry. All universities would have been informed of this and, before you go to your chosen university, they should contact you and arrange a needs assesment.

A needs assesment will be your opportunity to discuss how your disability affects you and your study. It will take place at an assesment centre or at your university depnding on whether they have the resources. Chances are though it will be an external centre.

If you haven't declared your disability on your UCAS form then you will still be able to get a needs assesment. Inform your Local Education Authority and the university you are going to once you have received your results.

After a needs assessment a report will be prepared by your adviser. It will give an overview of your recent educational achievements, medical history and problems you may encounter in your study with suggested resolutions (e.g. Laptop, text to speech software, audio books).

You will have an opportunity to check the report and then it will be sent off to your LEA. After the LEA have given their approval the support is arranged.

This may sound like a lengthy process but it isn't. Time can vary but it usually takes two weeks from your assessment to getting the support arranged. It should all be in place for your starting uni.

However, all you need to concern yourself with now is if you have disclosed your disability to UCAS and your unis. If so, the process should be automatic.

Here are some useful links

Disabled Students Allowance: -

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/DisabledPeople/EducationAndTraining/HigherEducation/DG_10034898

The DSA is a non-means tested grant (it isn't based on household income) and is used to cover the extra costs, equipment and help associated with your study.

The DSA is all you need to concentrate on for now.