Receiving DSA Travel Allowance for the first time. How does it work?

Hi, I'm currently working on my budget for the first instalment of my maintenance loan since its coming in the next couple weeks and I'm a bit confused. I'm autistic and have received a travel allowance from the DSA (first time getting DSA since I only just recently got confirmation of my 2014 diagnosis), I'm just curious on how it works, like do I have to provide receipts to SFE (it doesn't say in my report that I have to like with the printer/ink allowance) or do I just pay the £2 I have to contribute and DSA pays the rest to the company? Do I need to put money aside to pay for the full receipt?

Thanks for any advice in advance, its greatly appreciated :biggrin:

Reply 1

vj32

It sounds like you have had your needs assessment but not your DSA2 letter? If you have the DSA2 letter it will say on there that you either need to submit receipts, or that you need to set up an account with a specific taxi company. If you can choose a company and submit receipts, then yes you pay the full amount and DSA reimburse you. If you are told to set up a taxi account with a specific company then DSA pays them direct so you only need to pay your contribution.

Reply 2

Arden University

Official Rep

Original post by MHickman4104

Hi, I'm currently working on my budget for the first instalment of my maintenance loan since its coming in the next couple weeks and I'm a bit confused. I'm autistic and have received a travel allowance from the DSA (first time getting DSA since I only just recently got confirmation of my 2014 diagnosis), I'm just curious on how it works, like do I have to provide receipts to SFE (it doesn't say in my report that I have to like with the printer/ink allowance) or do I just pay the £2 I have to contribute and DSA pays the rest to the company? Do I need to put money aside to pay for the full receipt?
Thanks for any advice in advance, its greatly appreciated :biggrin:

@MHickman4104

The person to speak too is the Disability Support Officer at your institution. I work in that area, and we often agree a deal with a taxi company to pick someone up and drop them off home. If in doubt, keep receipts anyway. There is sometimes confusion in student services as some learners can apply for a bursary for bus travel etc so highlight it relates to DSA.

Marc
Arden University Student Ambassador

Reply 3

Agiwghthtwtbey

Hi fellow autistic 😉 (realise its a bit late but might help peiple who come across this later)

Once I had my DSA2 letters (nightmare trying to add certain things, and I had to add a new address to my letter becuase of times road closures which took 6 months because DSA hadn't reminded me that I needed to reapply so I thought it had been done etc. Also tricky as when i was trying to do some of it my assessment centre was in the process of closing down) and my taxi account set up, all I've had to do is log into the Addison Lee app, set it up with the code they gave me, and now when I travel it's set on my account and my mum's card is charged public transport (£1.64) and Addison Lee invoice the rest direct to DSA.

I personally would use Uber or something; that way you actually have digital proof of the receipts, but that's just becuase I would very easily lose paper receipts.

Actual mission, though because I'm on two different campuses throughout the week and my Addison Lee taxis only work for one campus and not the other or the additional address I have on my DSA letter, so I have to book Ubers/Wheelys (more Wheelys to pick me up; as they're much more reliable when prebooking) and claim the money back. It also took me the best part of a year to set up my taxi account and I've only been able to use it once a week this year, instead of 3 times a week.