A Guide to the Disabled Students' Allowances (DSA's) in Higher Education

Guide for 2008/09

Aim:

• To level the playing field.
• To help students with disabilities to benefit as fully as possible from their course.
• Grants to pay for the extra costs of attending the course because of disability.
• DSA's do not depend on your income or the income of the family.

Am I eligible?

You are eligible to apply for DSA's if:

• You attend an eligible full-time undergraduate course and you are personally eligible for maintenance support for that course;
• You undertake an eligible part-time undergraduate course, and are personally eligible for part time support (a part time course would have to last for at least one year and must not take more than twice as long to complete as an equivalent full-time course.)
• Postgraduate students are eligible to apply for a DSA if you undertake a recognised taught or research postgraduate course and meet the personal eligibility conditions. All postgraduate courses should last for one year and lead to a masters degree,doctorate,postgraduate diploma or certificate, for which the entry requirement is at least a first degree or equivalent. Part-time course will need to take no longer than twice the time of an equivalent full-time course in order to be eligible.

Remember, these allowances are not means-tested.

What is available for full-time undergraduate students?

Special Equipment Allowance

This allowance covers major items of equipment, the need for which arises from a disability, and which are necessary to enable a student to benefit fully from the course. It is payable at any time during the course, by one or more instalments, provided that the aggregated total of the payments does not exceed the maximum prescribed limit of £5,030 for the course. If it is more economical, items of equipment should be leased rather than purchased, especially if the claim is made during the latter stages of the course. Disabled students may find www.abilitynet.org.uk of use and interest. It provides impartial, expert advice about computer technology for people with disabilities. Students are strongly advised to contact the Disability Officer at the institution where they will be studying to find out about the facilities and resources they are able to offer students.

Non-Medical Personal Helper's Allowance

This allowance reimburses students up to a maximum of £20,000 per year for expenditure on personal helpers such as readers, lip speakers, note takers, non-medical carers, necessary for the student to benefit fully from the course. We must be satisfied that the expenses are in respect of the student's disability, and arise as a direct consequence of attendance on the course. The provision of these allowances does not remove the duty of local Social Services to provide assistance towards personal care costs which would have been incurred irrespective of a student's attendance on a course.

General Disability Allowance

This allowance has a maximum of £1680 per year and provides for supplementary payments for disability related expenditure incurred because of attendance on the course. The allowance may be used for miscellaneous expenditure not covered by the specific allowances and to supplement expenditure on non-medical helpers and/or special equipment in excess of the maximum amount payable under the specific allowances.

Travel for Disabled Students

Reimbursement of travel expenses may also be claimed if, by reason of your disability, you incur additional expenditure. You will be asked to show how your disability incurs additional cost, and to provide medical evidence if necessary.

What is available for part time undergraduate students?

Similar allowances are available, but the maximum amounts are:

• Special Equipment Allowance - £5,030 for the course
• Non-Medical Personal Helper Allowance - £15,000 per year
• General Allowance - £1,260 per year

What is available for post graduate students?

There is one allowance to meet all costs of up to £10,000 per year for both full-time and part-time post-graduate students.

In all cases, the amount you receive will be based on an assessment of needs carried out by a person with specialist experience at an independent assessment centre, or at a centre within your college or university.

You should not arrange for a DSA needs assessment without first contacting the Tameside Student Finance Team (see below) to make an application. When you make your initial application you will need to provide evidence of your disability.

Contact Information
Send us a Message	Student Finance Team Tameside MBC Council Offices Wellington Road Ashton under Lyne Lancs OL6 6DL View local map
0161 342 3210/2202
0161 342 2609