Disabled students allowance

About this service

The Disabled Student Allowance is a national scheme to support students with disabilities and help them to meet any costs of attending a course, which are a direct result of a disability. The local authority (LA) processes the applications from students living in its area together with applications for help with tuition fees and for student loans.

Eligibility

The Disabled Student Allowance is a Government funded allowance and is provided as part of the national funding scheme for students in higher education (such as first degrees/higher national diplomas/foundation degrees).

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.

Students on further education courses (such as A’ Levels/GNVQs /National Diplomas/ First Diplomas) are not eligible for support through the Disabled Student Allowance, but should contact their college to see if they are able to offer assistance.

The allowance is not means tested.

How to apply

Students starting at University in 2010/11 academic year or starting year 2 of course in 2010/11:

Details of how to apply can be found at www.direct.gov.uk/studentfinance

Students starting Year 3+ in 2010/11 academic year:

If you have not already applied for a DSA please contact the Student Finance Team at County Hall by email: studentfinance@wiltshire.gov.uk or by telephone: 01225 713784.

After making the initial request for a DSA, the student will be sent full details of the scheme.

The student will then need to supply independent evidence of their disability (letter from doctor / consultant / assessment report from educational psychologist etc).

Once the LA receives 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 LA will then notify the student as to the level of support that will be provided through the Disabled Student Allowance.

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.

Payment

There are 3 elements of the DSA:

Specialist equipment allowance
Non-medical helper's allowance
General allowance

Once the assessment of needs has been agreed students will be advised on how the recommendations will be paid for. Generally the process will either allow the student to purchase recommended equipment and then make a claim for reimbursement, or for the equipment supplier to submit an invoice for payment.

Contact Details

Email: studentfinance@wiltshire.gov.uk
Telephone: 01225 713784
Fax: 01225 713684
Postal Address:
Student Finance Team
Children and Education
Wiltshire Council
County Hall
Trowbridge
Wiltshire
BA14 8JN

Special educational needs