Extra Funding

Disabled Students' Allowances (DSAs) provide extra financial help for disabled students. DSAs are grants to help meet the extra course costs students face because of a disability. For example, DSAs can help pay for:

- specialist equipment you need for studying like computer software
- non-medical helpers, such as a note-taker or reader
- extra travel costs you have to pay because of your disability
- other costs such as photocopying or printer cartridges

DSAs are paid on top of the standard student finance package, or on their own.

You don't have to pay DSAs back and they're not counted as income when working out whether you get benefits or Tax Credits

You may get DSAs if you have a disability, long term health condition, mental-health condition or specific learning difficulty like dyslexia or dyspraxia.

You can apply for DSAs if:
- your condition affects your ability to study
- you qualify for student finance

- you're an undergraduate or postgraduate (including Open University or distance learning student)
- your course lasts at least one year

Part-time courses must take:
- no more than twice as long to complete as the full-time equivalent (for students starting before 1 September 2012)
-no more than four times as long to complete as the full-time equivalent (for students starting courses from 1 September 2012

The amount you get depends on your specific needs, not your household income.  Any money for equipment and support is paid directly to the supplier. If you claim back money for any additional expenses, this is paid directly into your account.  Below are the maximum amounts available.

Full-time students:
-Specialist equipment up to £5,161 for whole course
-Non-medical helper up to up to £20,520 a year
-General up to £1,724 a year

Part-time students:
- Specialist equipment up to £5,161 for whole course
- Non-medical helper up to £15,390 a year
- General up to £1,293 a year

The amount part-time students get is affected by their 'course intensity' - the length of the course each year compared to a full-time course.

Post-graduate:
-postgraduates are paid a single allowance, including travel costs - up to £10,260 a year

You can also claim additional travel costs you pay because of your disability.

Complete one of these forms

- DSASL- if you're applying for DSAs and other student finance
- DSA1F - if you're only applying for DSAs or you're a part-time, postgraduate or distance learning student

You'll need to send proof of your disability or condition with your application, this can be a letter from your doctor or specialist.

If you have a specific learning difficulty (like dyslexia), the proof you need is known as a 'post 16 diagnostic report'. You need to get this report from a chartered or practitioner psychologist
or a specialist teacher holding a current Assessment Practising Certificate

Find out what equipment and support you need

If you are eligible for DSAs, SFE will write to you, asking you to arrange a Needs Assessment for equipment and support, after you attend you'llreceive a report listing equipment and other support you may need for your course. Student Finance England will also get a copy of this report.

 Get your equipment and support

Once SFE have received your Needs Assessment Report, they'll send you an agreement letter, listing the equipment and other support your DSAs will cover. There will also be instructions about how to order your equipment or arrange other support.

If you have any additional costs (apart from equipment and support), you can claim these back. You'll have to fill in the DSA expenses claim form and send it to Student Finance England along with your receipts.  The DSA expenses claim form for 2012/13 will be available in October 2012.

If you're an Open University (OU) student, you should apply directly to the OU for Disabled Students' Allowances.

If your application is turned down you can ask for an explanation and a review of your case. Contact Student Finance England for more details.

A grant to help with childcare costs. This doesn't need to be paid back.

You can apply for a Childcare Grant if you're a full-time undergraduate student and you:

- have at least one dependent child who is under 15 and in registered or approved childcare; or
- have at least one dependent child who is under 17, is registered as having special educational needs, and in registered or approved childcare.

You may also be able to get  Childcare Grant if you:
- normally live in England and are studying abroad as part of your UK course; and
- can use childcare provided under Ministry of Defence accreditation scheme while you're abroad.

You can't get the Childcare Grant if you or your husband, wife or partner gets the childcare part of the Working Tax Credit from HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC).

All three and four year olds are entitled to a free, part-time early-learning place (for 15 hours a week, 38 weeks a year) in a pre-school setting such as a nursery. Childcare Grant won't be paid for any period covered by this free place. However, it can be paid to cover the cost of any extra childcare you use over and above this.

Depending on your household income, you can apply for 85% of your actual childcare costs during term time and holidays. You can get up to £255 a week depending on how many children you have.

You won't be able to get Childcare Grant if the childcare provider you use is:

• your partner;
• a relative of your child and is:
- approved under the Approval of Child Care Providers Scheme in Wales, or the Approval of Home Child Care Providers Scheme in Northern Ireland;
- providing care away from your child's home;
- only caring for children he or she is related to.

A relative of the child means a parent, grandparent, aunt, uncle, brother, sister, related by blood or marriage, or a person with a strong relationship to the child (for example, someone acting as a parent to their partner's children).

Usually in three instalments, one at the start of each term, direct to your bank account.

No, unless your estimated costs were higher than your actual costs, or you don't confirm the actual costs when we ask you to. You may also have to pay it back if your household's actual income and outgoings were different from those you gave in your application.

Travel grants are available to full time students who are attending a Clinical Placement in the UK or studying abroad as part of their course.

Am I eligible to apply?

You will qualify for a Travel Grant if your student finance is based on your household income and you will be:
- Attending a hospital or other premises in the UK as an integral part of your medical or dental course
- Attending an overseas institution for at least 50% of an academic term. This period of study can be compulsory or optional.

The amount of Travel Grant available to you will depend on your household income and covers reasonable costs of travel expenses during the academic year. The first £303 of travel costs are disregarded so you will receive your travel costs minus £303.

The method and class of travel, along with other expenditure costs must be reasonable; you must purchase the most economical and practical form of transport.

If you are eligible, you can be reimbursed for:

- Up to three journeys between the UK and the overseas institution during a full academic year minus the first £303.
- Any necessary travel costs associated with clinical training where your attendance at a hospital or other premises is necessary
- The cost of your child/children's fare between the UK and the overseas institution if you are a lone parent
- Mandatory medical insurance, visas and medical expenses for the purpose of studying abroad.
- If you have to travel by car, a rate of 27p per mile will be used.

When you complete your main application you'll be asked to provide details of any Clinical Placements or study abroad periods. If you're undertaking a Clinical Placement you'll be issued with an SFE Clinical Study Travel Expenses Form. If you are studying abroad you will be issued with:

- SFE Course Abroad Form - should be completed by your university or college to confirm periods abroad.
- SFE Travel Abroad Expenses Form - you should complete.

Please provide photocopies as proof of the payment made. Evidence must be proof of payment and confirmation of what you purchased not just an itinerary or quote. For example this could be an e-receipt for payment of flights.