UK Student Finance
An A-Z of Student Finance

Financial Help for Disabled Students

If you have a disability, or specific learning difficulty such as dyslexia, you may be entitled to claim extra financial help as a student. This is paid on top of any standard student finance you may receive.

Sources of extra financial help for disabled students include:

·        Disabled Students' Allowances

·        Access to Learning Fund

·        Disability Living Allowance

·        Incapacity Benefit

Disabled Students' Allowances

Disabled Students’ Allowances are grants to help meet the extra costs of studying that students face as a direct result of a disability or specific learning difficulty. They are designed to help disabled students study on an equal basis with other students.

The allowances are paid on top of the standard student finance package. The amount you can get does not depend on your household income. The allowances do not have to be repaid.

What Can You Claim For?

Disabled Students’ Allowances cover four types of help:

·        specialist equipment you need for studying, for example computer software

·        a non-medical helper, such as a note-taker or reader

·        extra travel costs you have to pay because of your disability

·        other costs, for example tapes or Braille paper

Student Finance Direct will pay the money into your account as needed, or directly to the supplier of services (for example your university, college or equipment supplier).

Do You Qualify?

To apply, you will need to provide written evidence of your disability. If you have a specific learning difficulty such as dyslexia or dyspraxia, you may be asked to have a diagnostic assessment carried out.

You can apply if you are studying:

·        a full-time course that lasts at least one year (including a distance-learning course)

·        a part-time course that lasts one year and doesn't take more than twice as long to complete as an equivalent full-time course (including an Open University or other distance learning course)

To apply for financial help from Disabled Students’ Allowances, you and your course must be ‘eligible’.

How to Apply

Full-time students apply for Disabled Students’ Allowances at the same time as they apply for the standard student finance package. Tick the box on the main application and follow any other instructions on the form. You may be sent another form to complete.

Part-time students and postgraduates apply by completing the Disabled Students’ Allowances application form.

Access to Learning Fund

You may also be able to claim additional financial help through the Access to Learning Fund.

Disability Living Allowance

Disability Living Allowance can be paid over and above Disabled Students’ Allowances or any other grant or loan. The office that deals with your claim for Disability Living Allowance can give you more detailed information about this.

Incapacity Benefit

Incapacity Benefit is a benefit for people who are unable to work because of illness or disability. If you already claim Incapacity Benefit, you may be able to carry on receiving it as a student. Your Incapacity Benefit will not be reduced if you receive Disabled Students’ Allowances or any other grant or loan.

You can get more information about claiming this benefit while studying from Skill (National Bureau for Students with Disabilities).
 

 

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