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Thursday, 4 December 2008

Disabled people

Disabled People

Disabled Students' Allowances - how to apply

Find out how to apply for Disabled Students' Allowances and what to do if your application is turned down.

Applying for Disabled Students' Allowances

There are two different ways of applying for Disabled Students' Allowances. Which one you use will depend on whether you are:

  • doing a full-time higher education course, or
  • studying part time or doing a postgraduate course

Most universities and colleges have a Disability Advisor. They can help with your application and give you advice about other sources of funding.

If you're doing a full-time higher education course

If you're a full-time higher education student, you should apply for Disabled Students' Allowances by completing application form DSA1.

You'll be sent a copy of the form, and the guidance booklet that goes with it, if you tick the relevant box on your main student finance application – you can also download copies, or ask your local authority to send them by post.

Ask your local authority if you need copies of the form and guidance booklet in an alternative format – they're available in large print, Braille and audio versions.

Ticking the box on your main student finance application

When you complete your main student finance application online or on paper, tick the 'Disabled Students' Allowances' box.

In most cases, your local authority will then send you the DSA1 application form for you to complete and return, along with the ' Bridging the Gap' guidance booklet.

Some local authorities may handle applications for Disabled Students' Allowances differently - for example, they may send a confirmation letter for you to sign instead.

Downloading the application form and information booklet

Follow the links below to download the form DSA1, the guidance notes for completing the form and the information booklet 'Bridging the Gap'.

Getting an application form by post

You can contact your local council and ask them to post you an application form.

Ordering the application form and guidance booklet in alternative formats

All application forms and booklets are available in alternative formats, including large print, Braille and audio versions. You can order these from Student Finance Direct's Customer Support Office.

Telephone: 08456 077 577

Postgraduates and part-time higher education students

If you're studying part time or doing a postgraduate course, you need to take the DSA1 form to your college or university, ask them to sign it and then send it to the address printed on the form.

You don't need to get your university or college to sign your DSA1 form if you're a part-time higher education student and they have already completed form PTG1 for you. Just send it straight to the address printed on the form once you've filled it in.

Open University students

You should apply directly to the Open University's Disabled Students' Allowances (DSA) office. If you tell the Open University you have a disability when you apply, the office will send you the application form automatically.

If your application is turned down: how to appeal

If your local authority turns down your application, you can ask them for more information on why they decided to do so.

If you disagree with the decision, you can ask them to review your case. If the decision is reviewed and you still feel the decision was wrong, ask your local council how you can appeal against it.

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