diabetic daughter off to uni, in need of help buying a fridge

pickpocketlocket

sizzler1893 wrote: »

Diabetes alone IS NOT sufficient to aplly for ESA, DLA, DSA or any benefit.

So you know better than the following sources, do you? :rotfl:

Brunel University

National Bureau for Students with Disabilities?

System

Taken from Diabetes UK

Not all students with diabetes get a DSA, but there’s no harm in your son or daughter speaking to the student welfare officer at their uni or the local education authority.

dscnty

Your daughter can absolutely apply for DSA. She should talk to the Disability Adviser at her Uni who can assist her with the process. Details for the disability services at the Uni can be found on the Uni website.

They may also be able to provide a loan fridge until her DSA application gets processed. There may also be other adjustments that they can make within the Uni eg allow your daughter to take food/drinks into lectures and also exam adjustments. So she should really make contact with them ASAP.

sizzler1893

pickpocketlocket wrote: »

So you know better than the following sources, do you? :rotfl:

Brunel University

National Bureau for Students with Disabilities?

I know from personal experience through DiabetesUK.

Claims for benefits would only go in hand with situations such as Hypoglycaemic episodes where there is no warning, unable to to manage the condition by yourself. Diabetes doesnt qualify you for benefits - the complications of it will.

The day the condition alone makes you eligible will be the day the welfare state ends.

Since 1996 the number of people diagnosed with diabetes has increased from 1.4 million to 2.9 million. Cant see Dave paying out for Disability benefits to all of us can you???

Incidently the reason it was included in the DDA was partly so employers couldn't penalise those with Diabetes when they had to attend Hospital Appointment etc or, indeed, actually refuse employment because you have the condition.

LL30

Has she been allocated a disabled student's advisor? Mine has been beyond amazing in putting things in place for me before I start...the room timetabling has even been changed on my account! If she hasn't applied for DSA, just to reassure you, it's a very simple process and nothing at all like applying for state disability benefits. The focus is on what you need to put you on a level playing field with everyone else, it's not about throwing money at you, but exploring practicalities.

Get her on the blower tomorrow xx

HB58

Isn't there a fridge in the kitchen? Surely that would do to start off with?

margaretclare

Make sure she has some glucose tablets with her at all times, Lucozade tablets are easy to keep in the pocket in case of 'hypo'. DH keeps some all over the place, in the car, on his desk, by his bedside. BTW no one ever suggested that he should claim DLA just for being diabetic, and he was diagnosed in 1981. He now gets AA but that's not for being diabetic.

Camelina

Your daughter needs to tell Student Finance or NHS bursaries(depending on who funding her) that she wishes to apply for DSA.
They will send her forms to complete and ask for evidence of her disability(letter from DR/consultant etc) it doesn't have to be a letter directly for Student Finance just something in writing that confirms diagnosis of diabetes. Once this is provided (and accepted) by Student Finance they will ask her to attend a disability assessment(takes about an hour) where an assessor will go through her needs(very low key-chat about difficulties and what would help) a report will then be submitted to Student Finance and they will write to daughter detailing exactly what they will pay for. A mini fridge for diabetes is most likely to be a certainty. Downside is you will have to pay for it first and then reclaim the money(but to be fair they are quick to reimburse)
Re fridges in room, most Unis generally don't allow, you will have to send a nother letter to Accomodation office asking for 'permission' (will need to send proof of disability again)
I know it sounds long winded but actually it is quite painless(honestly)
As obviously we are getting close to start of term, if the assessment can't be carried out prior to going to Uni the disabilty office and Uni will guide your daughter(maybe worth registering with them before she goes)

Camelina

sizzler1893 wrote: »

I know from personal experience through DiabetesUK.

Claims for benefits would only go in hand with situations such as Hypoglycaemic episodes where there is no warning, unable to to manage the condition by yourself. Diabetes doesnt qualify you for benefits - the complications of it will.

The day the condition alone makes you eligible will be the day the welfare state ends.

Since 1996 the number of people diagnosed with diabetes has increased from 1.4 million to 2.9 million. Cant see Dave paying out for Disability benefits to all of us can you???

Incidently the reason it was included in the DDA was partly so employers couldn't penalise those with Diabetes when they had to attend Hospital Appointment etc or, indeed, actually refuse employment because you have the condition.

But op is not asking for advice on claiming benefits it is an allowance to enable the student to enable them to attend Uni on a level playing field. They do not get the money straight into their pockets(like most benefits) they first have to spend the money and then reclaim afterwards with receipts as proof(wouldn't it be great if all benefit claimants had to do this )

Camelina

challfour wrote: »

It is a fact that being a Type 1 diabetic and over 16 years of age, is in itself not something that either creates needs for a DLA claim or gives excuse that someone cannot do any type of work.

However if there are excessive side effects such as uncontrollable BS levels and the claimant is having hypos and hypers all over the place which is very very rare, or there are complications that have arisen because of diabetes, then yes it is possible to claim DLA/ESA.

But for the vast majority, type 1 gives no more problems than the common cold does. I'm type 1 so I should know.

Again you are confusing 'normal' benefits with a payment to students to allow them to compete on an equal standing. Halls are generally warm, it would not be practical to leave prescribed medication in a communal fridge, OP would be entitled to money for the purchase of a mini fridge to keep medications in room in Halls.