Ask An Assessor

We’ve partnered with Disabled Students’ Allowance Needs Assessors who are here to answer all your questions about the DSA, and get you ready for your Needs Assessments!

Say hello to Debbie 👋

Debbie is a freelance Disabled Students’ Allowance Needs Assessor based in England. Debbie is here to answer any question you have about the DSA, demystify the DSA process and provide first-hand advice for Needs Assessments.

Do I need to apply for the DSA every year?

In this video, Debbie answers a very common question about the Disabled Students’ Allowance: do you need to apply every year?

  • If you are a full-time undergraduate in England you do not need to apply every year if you got the DSA the previous academic year, you took out a maintenance or tuition fees loan (or both), and you’re staying on the same course

You may need to re-apply for the DSA if the following applies to you:

  • You didn’t take out a maintenance or a tuition fee loan

  • You’ve changed your course

  • You’ve changed from studying full-time to part-time, and vice-versa

  • You’ve withdrawn from your course, changed your course end date, suspended your studies, or are repeating a year of study.

When in doubt, speak to your university’s Disability Services department.

Can I ask for more DSA support?

Debbie breaks down how you can go back to your Needs Assessor to ask for more support through the DSA.

  • At any point during your course, you can go back to your DSA Needs Assessor and ask for additional support

  • For example, you may have found out that you now have to deliver presentations as a part of your course which creates anxiety for you, and you want to go back and ask for some support with this via the Present Pal app

  • Or, you may have received an additional diagnosis, or your diagnosis may have changed. That’s completely fine (and more common than you think!) You can go back to your Needs Assessor who will discuss how your study needs have changed

Can I apply for the DSA if I’m in the process of being diagnosed?

If you are in the process of being diagnosed with a condition, you may not be able to apply for the Disabled Students’ Allowance.

However, Student Finance understands that getting a diagnosis can be a challenge for students, particularly for conditions like Autism and ADHD, as well as physical or invisible disabilities.

If you have evidence that you are pursuing a diagnosis and have evidence of some of the traits/characteristics/symptoms of a condition, it may be worth applying.

Apply for the DSA with the evidence that you do have and see what your funding body tells you. Alternatively, you should speak to your university directly as they may have other reasonable adjustments they can offer you, outwith the DSA.

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