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Disabled Students' Allowances - how much you can get

The amount of help you get through Disabled Students' Allowances is based on an assessment of your individual needs – up to the maximum allowance. The different allowances have different limits.

Working out Disabled Students' Allowances

Disabled Students' Allowances are aimed at helping people with an impairment, health condition (including mental health conditions) or a specific learning difficulty to study on the same basis as other students. Therefore, how much you get depends on your individual needs – up to a maximum allowance.

When you apply, you will be asked to go for a needs assessment to establish exactly what support you require. This will be carried out by a person with specialist experience at an independent assessment centre, or at a centre within your college or university. The cost of the needs assessment may be met through your Disabled Students' Allowances.

If you're a part-time student, the amount you can get is also affected by the ‘intensity' of your course – how much time you spend studying compared to a full-time student.

Household income is not taken into account when working out entitlement to Disabled Students' Allowances. They're paid on top of any help you get through the standard student finance package and you don't have to pay them back.

Allowances for full-time and part-time higher education students

The tables below show the maximum allowances for full-time and part-time higher education students (including Open University students and other distance learners).

Maximum allowances are meant to support the highest levels of need, so most people will get less.

On top of the allowances listed in this table, you can claim for 'reasonable spending' on extra travel costs for the academic year.

Maximums for full-time and part-time higher education students: 2012 to 2013

Type of allowance Full-time students Part-time students
Specialist equipment £5,266 for entire course £5,266 for entire course
Non-medical helper £20,938 a year £15,703 a year (depends on intensity of course)
General Disabled Students' Allowances £1,759 a year £1,319 a year (depends on intensity of course)

Allowances for postgraduate students

Postgraduate students (including Open University students and other distance learners) can apply for a single allowance to cover all costs.

The maximum allowance for 2012 to 2013 is £10,469.

How they are paid

The money will either be paid into your account or directly to the supplier of the services - for example your university, college or equipment supplier.

Effect on other financial help

Disabled Students' Allowances are not counted as income when working out your entitlement to benefits or tax credits.

If your circumstances change

If your disability becomes more severe during your course, you can apply to have another needs assessment. Contact the organisation which handled your application to arrange this.

You'll still be entitled to Disabled Students' Allowances if you transfer to another course. But if you need different equipment and you've already used up your equipment allowance, you will not be able to get any more through Disabled Students' Allowances.