www.wiltshire.gov.uk
Education - grants - disabled students allowance
Summary of Service
The Disabled Student Allowance is a Government funded allowance and is provided as part of the national funding scheme for students in higher education.
The aim of the Disabled Student Allowance is to support students with disabilities and to help them meet any cost of attending the course as a direct result of the disability.
Although the Disabled Student Allowance is a national scheme each local authority processes applications from students living in its area together with applications for help with tuition fees and for student loans.
Needs
In order to apply for the Disabled Student Allowance the student must complete and return a PN1 form, the same form that students use to apply for help with tuition fees and student loans. Existing students in higher education should use form PR1 to indicate that they would like to apply for the Disabled Student Allowance.
You can download the PN1 form from the related forms menu on this page, or alternatively contact Wiltshire County Council's Student Finance Team by email at: studentfinance@wiltshire.gov.uk.
PR1 forms are sent to existing students in the spring before the new academic year.
As the DSA process can take some time to complete it is very important that students apply early for support. It is worth noting that in many cases even if students apply in the spring it is not possible to get everything they need in place for the start of the student's studies in the autumn.
Please Note: All the forms can be downloaded from the related forms menu on this page.
Payment
There are 3 elements of the DSA and the maximum payments for each are as follows:
- Specialist equipment allowance
- Non-medical helper's allowance
- General allowance
The allowance is not means tested.
For higher education students studying on a part time basis there is a similar Disabled Student Allowance scheme and further details are available on request.
If you are studying a further education course you will not be eligible for support through the Disabled Student's Allowance. You should contact your college to see if they are able to offer you assistance.
Eligibility
The first stage in the process is to indicate on form PN1/PR1 that a Disabled Student Allowance is required.
Full details of the Disabled Student Allowance scheme are then sent to the student.
The second stage is for the student to supply independent evidence of their disability (letter from doctor / consultant / assessment report from educational psychologist etc).
Once we have received the evidence of disability the student will be referred to an Assessment of Needs Centre. The Centre will assess the student's disability related needs during their studies and will then submit its recommendations to the local authority.
The local authority will then notify the student as to the level of support that will be provided through the Disabled Student Allowance.
Contact Details
By Post
Student Finance Team
Department for Children and Education
Wiltshire County Council
County Hall
Bythesea Road
Trowbridge
Wiltshire
BA14 8JB
By Email
studentfinance@wiltshire.gov.uk
By Telephone
08456 077 577
By Fax
01225 713684
| A to Z Names | Education - grants - disabled students allowance, Education - grants - disabled students allowance |
|---|---|
| Keywords | Special educational needs (SEN) - disabled student allowance; disabled student allowance |
| PID No. | 11 |
| IPSV Category | Special educational needs and additional support |
| Level 1 Name | Education - grants - disabled students allowance |
| IPSV ID | 1379 |
