Financial help for disabled students in higher education :Cross Stitch – Disabled people

If you have a disability you may be entitled to claim extra financial help while studying. Disabilities covered include long-term illnesses, mental-health conditions and specific learning difficulties such as dyslexia. Find out what help is available.

Sources of extra financial help for disabled students include types of student finance and benefits. These are paid on top of the standard student finance package and include:

• Disabled Students’ Allowances (from Student Finance England)
• Access to Learning Fund (from your university or college)
• Disability Living Allowance (from the Disability and Carers Service)
• Employment and Support Allowance (from Jobcentre Plus)
• Incapacity Benefit (from Jobcentre Plus)

Disabled Students’ Allowances (DSAs) are grants to help with the extra costs a student may face because of a disability. Conditions covered include long-term illnesses, mental health conditions or specific learning difficulties such as dyslexia.

If you qualify for DSAs, they’re paid on top of any standard student finance you get. You can apply to Student Finance England for DSAs when you apply for student finance. The amount you can get isn’t affected by your household income, and the allowances don’t have to be paid back.

To find out about qualifying and applying for DSAs see the link ‘Disabled Students’ Allowances (DSAs)’.

Adult Dependants’ Grant

If you apply for Disabled Students’ Allowances or any other student finance and your partner is also studying, they won’t be able to get Adult Dependants’ Grant.

Employment and Support Allowance and Incapacity Benefit are benefits for people with an illness or disability that affects their ability to work. You need to apply for these benefits through Jobcentre Plus.

If you already claim one of these benefits, you may be able to carry on receiving it as a student.

You can get more information about claiming benefits while studying from Disability Rights UK.