Students face delays in the processing of Disabled Students Allowance applications for this funding round (for courses starting September 2015).
Changes to the type of equipment and support services available through the Disabled Students Allowance were announced in April 2014. Between October and December Statutory Instrument passed through Parliament, confirming that all students will have to meet a £200 shortfall on computers needed to run specialist software. As promised, a version of the document that sets out how changes are to be reflected in needs assessments and administered by the main funding body (Student Loans Company) was made available for comment. However, it was not widely circulated, it was not clear whether open comments or 'usual channel' stakeholder group comments were being asked for, and was difficult or impossible for disabled peoples' group to locate the document or to understand what was being asked for. Shortly after the news of a legal challenge on DSA cuts centred on lack of appropriate consultation, we have the news that the comments period for for the draft administrative guidance has been extended to 20th Feb. The DSA application forms, however, have already been released. This means that DSA needs assessment reports and the agreement to recommendations will be delayed while we wait for the release of the finalised version of the rules.
