Rheumatoid Arthritis and DSA
Hi. I was diagnosed RA 10 years ago. And i am on medication and regular blood tests and hospital appointments from then. At the moment i am under pain management as well and will get infusions regularly. I git admision in HND and applied for student finance, my application is approved now. And my course is about to start. But i just thought if i can apply for DSA ? I also talk with DSA team and they said it depends if my doctr can write a letter etc. Can any one please guide me through this ? Any chances to get DSA ? i am in constant pain every time. Some days better some days worst.
Please rply me any one
Are you an SFE Student? You should be eligible. Ask your doctor for a letter or to fill in this SFE evidence from https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/65cdfeb61d93950012946713/sfe_disability_evidence_form_o.pdf
Original post by Lumiere36
Are you an SFE Student? You should be eligible. Ask your doctor for a letter or to fill in this SFE evidence from https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/65cdfeb61d93950012946713/sfe_disability_evidence_form_o.pdf
Yes i already applied sf. And it is approved. And yes i asked my gp for letter. It will cost £25. But i am not sure if i can get dsa . And is it only equipment or they gave any money aswel?
Hi there. I have rheumatoid arthritis (and some other autoimmune conditions) and I have been approved for DSA. It might be worth speaking to the university disability support service and they can guide you with your application.
I had no problems in being accepted for DSA. I sent the copy of the letter from my consultant with my RA diagnosis and that was accepted as sufficient medical evidence without having to go back to my GP for anything further.
I haven’t yet received all my equipment, but I have been approved a new laptop (had to pay £200 contribution and upgrade cost), software to minimise eye strain from lots of screen time, talk to type software and AI based software to summarise to help with fatigue and brain fog issues. I’ve also been approved ergonomic equipment including a new chair, keyboard, mouse and laptop riser.
If you feel that you would benefit, it’s definitely worth looking into. My disability support team even got in touch with finance at the university and they’ve paid my £200 laptop contribution.
I had no problems in being accepted for DSA. I sent the copy of the letter from my consultant with my RA diagnosis and that was accepted as sufficient medical evidence without having to go back to my GP for anything further.
I haven’t yet received all my equipment, but I have been approved a new laptop (had to pay £200 contribution and upgrade cost), software to minimise eye strain from lots of screen time, talk to type software and AI based software to summarise to help with fatigue and brain fog issues. I’ve also been approved ergonomic equipment including a new chair, keyboard, mouse and laptop riser.
If you feel that you would benefit, it’s definitely worth looking into. My disability support team even got in touch with finance at the university and they’ve paid my £200 laptop contribution.
I've been given DSA for chronic pain (not RA). I got very similar things to the person above me (but not a laptop as I didn't need one).
You need to send off an evidence letter and then they will have a look and decide if you get an assessment (which you should).
You then have an assessment with someone, mine took 2 hours and they will write a report which Student Finance have to approve.
Then, if you have ergonomic equipment approved/listed (it gets a bit complicated), then someone will come to your house and assess you for that as in measurements for desks and things. Student Finance then give you another letter.
Then you get the equipment and any online programs. You then have online training for each of the programs (about 2 hours per programme).
This takes a long time, so as soon as Student Finance opens, submit your evidence so it can be ready. Also, and I only worked this out a few months ago, you need to reapply for it each year. If nothing has changed (and the government hasn't changed the rules), then you shouldn't need reassessing, just approving. But again, takes time.
I'm happy to help with anymore questions or breaking the process down. But your prospective university DDS 's should be able to help as well.
You need to send off an evidence letter and then they will have a look and decide if you get an assessment (which you should).
You then have an assessment with someone, mine took 2 hours and they will write a report which Student Finance have to approve.
Then, if you have ergonomic equipment approved/listed (it gets a bit complicated), then someone will come to your house and assess you for that as in measurements for desks and things. Student Finance then give you another letter.
Then you get the equipment and any online programs. You then have online training for each of the programs (about 2 hours per programme).
This takes a long time, so as soon as Student Finance opens, submit your evidence so it can be ready. Also, and I only worked this out a few months ago, you need to reapply for it each year. If nothing has changed (and the government hasn't changed the rules), then you shouldn't need reassessing, just approving. But again, takes time.
I'm happy to help with anymore questions or breaking the process down. But your prospective university DDS 's should be able to help as well.
Original post by Kanwal habib
Hi. I was diagnosed RA 10 years ago. And i am on medication and regular blood tests and hospital appointments from then. At the moment i am under pain management as well and will get infusions regularly. I git admision in HND and applied for student finance, my application is approved now. And my course is about to start. But i just thought if i can apply for DSA ? I also talk with DSA team and they said it depends if my doctr can write a letter etc. Can any one please guide me through this ? Any chances to get DSA ? i am in constant pain every time. Some days better some days worst.
Hi,Yes you can apply for DSA. I recently got awarded DSA for RA, Anxiety and Migraines. You will need plenty of evidence (doctors letter etc). You can find the forms on student finance website or you can call and they will email them to you. Some universities can provide help with filling out the form so contact them for help too!
What you get for anxiety ? Because they approve my RA but not anxiety and OCD. SO I am thinking i should only go for RA.
Original post by CatLover1
I've been given DSA for chronic pain (not RA). I got very similar things to the person above me (but not a laptop as I didn't need one).
You need to send off an evidence letter and then they will have a look and decide if you get an assessment (which you should).
You then have an assessment with someone, mine took 2 hours and they will write a report which Student Finance have to approve.
Then, if you have ergonomic equipment approved/listed (it gets a bit complicated), then someone will come to your house and assess you for that as in measurements for desks and things. Student Finance then give you another letter.
Then you get the equipment and any online programs. You then have online training for each of the programs (about 2 hours per programme).
This takes a long time, so as soon as Student Finance opens, submit your evidence so it can be ready. Also, and I only worked this out a few months ago, you need to reapply for it each year. If nothing has changed (and the government hasn't changed the rules), then you shouldn't need reassessing, just approving. But again, takes time.
I'm happy to help with anymore questions or breaking the process down. But your prospective university DDS 's should be able to help as well.
You need to send off an evidence letter and then they will have a look and decide if you get an assessment (which you should).
You then have an assessment with someone, mine took 2 hours and they will write a report which Student Finance have to approve.
Then, if you have ergonomic equipment approved/listed (it gets a bit complicated), then someone will come to your house and assess you for that as in measurements for desks and things. Student Finance then give you another letter.
Then you get the equipment and any online programs. You then have online training for each of the programs (about 2 hours per programme).
This takes a long time, so as soon as Student Finance opens, submit your evidence so it can be ready. Also, and I only worked this out a few months ago, you need to reapply for it each year. If nothing has changed (and the government hasn't changed the rules), then you shouldn't need reassessing, just approving. But again, takes time.
I'm happy to help with anymore questions or breaking the process down. But your prospective university DDS 's should be able to help as well.
Thank you for your detailed reply. I applied and approved for DSA. Now i am waiting for needs assesment. Which is next month. It was only one slot available. My course already started. I didnt know about Dsa before. And i am struggling at the moment. Any idea if i have needs asesment 6th march, how long it will take to receive equipments ? Also can you please guide me about reimbursement process? How it works.. i have no idea of any thing. And i did not talk in my colleg . Because my disability can't be seen by every one. So i feel very down if i have to explain some one that i have this disease which you cant see. Aniways. I am not going to tell in my colleg about this.
Your needs assessment (at least for me) was someone asking questions about how your disability affects you. You will have given medical evidence, so there is no dispute about them believing you. You can't see my disability either, but that didn't matter. They asked what hurts, what symptoms you have and then they will run through things that can help. For me, that was ergonomic equipment, taxi allowance, ability to record lectures and certain computer programs.
The assessment should be made to be very supportive. It is about helping you, you diagnosis is already believed and your evidence should say how it affects you, so that gives them a starting point.
I'm not sure how reimbursement really works. I have it for my taxi allowance, but haven't used it. If you are getting taxis every day, then you book them through a certain company and then student finance sort it out. You pay the public transport cost, for me in London it would be £3 ISH for each taxi journey.
It is completely your choice whether or not to speak to your university. But I would urge you to, you have the evidence, as long as you have a good DDS service, you will be believed. My university gave me access to rest rooms, a personal fire evacuation plan, access to adaptive IT rooms, ability to have easier extensions to assignments (ask my school to take into account that I have already provided evidence) and a note to my lecturers that I may have to leave due to pain and to not draw attention to it.
In your application for DSA, you would have chosen whether to allow the university to access a report. I presume you selected no. Some of the things offered by DSA, will be similar or more easily supported by your university knowing. Also, I know very little about RA, but if it is anything like my chronic pain, there will be days that you cannot come to university/out of the house. Depending on the course you are doing, that may affect attendance requirements. The university could reduce the number you have to attend or say you have to attend seminars but can watch lecture recordings from home. Most DDS support will be invisible (e.g. there is a lot for neurodiveristy or severe allergies etc or invisible mobility issues). It is completely your choice, but unless your DDS is not good, I would communicate with them.
The assessment should be made to be very supportive. It is about helping you, you diagnosis is already believed and your evidence should say how it affects you, so that gives them a starting point.
I'm not sure how reimbursement really works. I have it for my taxi allowance, but haven't used it. If you are getting taxis every day, then you book them through a certain company and then student finance sort it out. You pay the public transport cost, for me in London it would be £3 ISH for each taxi journey.
It is completely your choice whether or not to speak to your university. But I would urge you to, you have the evidence, as long as you have a good DDS service, you will be believed. My university gave me access to rest rooms, a personal fire evacuation plan, access to adaptive IT rooms, ability to have easier extensions to assignments (ask my school to take into account that I have already provided evidence) and a note to my lecturers that I may have to leave due to pain and to not draw attention to it.
In your application for DSA, you would have chosen whether to allow the university to access a report. I presume you selected no. Some of the things offered by DSA, will be similar or more easily supported by your university knowing. Also, I know very little about RA, but if it is anything like my chronic pain, there will be days that you cannot come to university/out of the house. Depending on the course you are doing, that may affect attendance requirements. The university could reduce the number you have to attend or say you have to attend seminars but can watch lecture recordings from home. Most DDS support will be invisible (e.g. there is a lot for neurodiveristy or severe allergies etc or invisible mobility issues). It is completely your choice, but unless your DDS is not good, I would communicate with them.
In terms of how long before equipment, it depends. For ergonomic equipment, you need a separate in person assessment and then they need to be approved by student finance again and then ordered and then delivered and built. From second approval by student finance, I would say at least 4 weeks.
For online programs, they can be immediate or within a couple of weeks (they are a pain to set up by the way), but you will have training for them which can take a while to set up, but you can use them before the training.
Again, for taxi it is as soon as it is approved by student finance.
Also, in terms of DDS at university, you cannot get exam adaptation such as extra time, rest breaks without submitting evidence. Those are likely to really help you if you have exams.
For online programs, they can be immediate or within a couple of weeks (they are a pain to set up by the way), but you will have training for them which can take a while to set up, but you can use them before the training.
Again, for taxi it is as soon as it is approved by student finance.
Also, in terms of DDS at university, you cannot get exam adaptation such as extra time, rest breaks without submitting evidence. Those are likely to really help you if you have exams.
Original post by Kanwal habib
What you get for anxiety ? Because they approve my RA but not anxiety and OCD. SO I am thinking i should only go for RA.
Sorry for the late response, I was given a specialist mentor (who specialises in mental health) to help me with my university schedule, deadlines, catching up when I fall behind due to flares etc. I haven't accessed this yet as I am still waiting on all the quotes and stuff to go through, but I am hoping it will be helpful. I am the type of person to have one bad week and try and quit and flush everything down the toilet due to anxiety of failing so I am hoping having someone to talk to and help me manage my workload will help.
Quick Reply
Related discussions
- DSA assesment date
- Long term mental health condition advice
- DSA for autism (and anxiety)
- My friend got a diagnosis of RA (at 21)
- Apply for student finance with EU settled status- an online course living out of UK?
- Arthritis - can anyone help?
- Should i mention this in my personal statement?
- DSA and chronic illness
- What accommodations / support do you get?
- Arthritis
- Dsa
- Is DSA paid with normal loan?
- DSA application
- Impossible to get hold of anyone at DSA
- Printer on DSA
- Redo DSA Application?
- How Long does DSA application take
- DSA application times
- Dsa help please!!!
- Mistakenly applied for DSA
Latest
Trending
Last reply 2 weeks ago
Receiving DSA Travel Allowance for the first time. How does it work?Last reply 7 months ago
Are people with autism generally entitled to extra time in exams? If so why?
