Special Support Grant - ESA

greenorange

Hopefully this is the correct place to post this!

I was receiving ESA when I applied for Student Finance for 2013/2014 year. Recently, my ESA was reduced to a few pound a month, and they wanted me to go to medicals/job centre interviews, so I ended the claim as I decided it was not worth the hassle/time involved.

Student finance have just sent me a letter stating they have reassessed me and changing my special support grant to a maintenance grant, which is around £1600 less, as they have no proof for the special support grant from me.

I am registered disabled (partially sighted) and receive the lowest rate DLA.

Student finance have said send proof of disability and letter from doctor and they'll reassess me.

Does being registered partially sighted/disabled automatically mean I qualify for the special support grant, or have I just shot myself in the foot by cancelling my ESA claim?

If I have to receive ESA to get the special support grant, can I simply make a new ESA claim and go through it all again, send proof to student finance and get reassessed that way?

Thanks!

Dunroamin

There's no nationwide system of registering being disabled, it's a purely local thing these days.

You can find the eligibility conditions for the special support grant on here to see if you still qualify but it looks to me as if you'll need to reapply for ESA and hope that you can claim it.

http://www.direct.gov.uk/prod_consum_dg/groups/dg_digitalassets/@dg/@en/documents/digitalasset/dg_195934.pdf

greenorange

Dunroamin wrote: »

There's no nationwide system of registering being disabled, it's a purely local thing these days.

You can find the eligibility conditions for the special support grant on here to see if you still qualify but it looks to me as if you'll need to reapply for ESA and hope that you can claim it.

http://www.direct.gov.uk/prod_consum_dg/groups/dg_digitalassets/@dg/@en/documents/digitalasset/dg_195934.pdf

Looks like I'll have to apply for ESA again and wish for the best.

That was an expensive mistake cancelling my ESA claim.

Indie_Kid

You should be entitled to the special support grant on the basis of DLA, which if you appliued for benefits, (not ESA) would entitle you to the disability premium.

Registering partially sighted does still exist and isn't a local thing.

greenorange

A little update: Thanks for the replies.

I received a delayed letter from student finance stating you are entitled to the Special Support Grant if you are registered blind (which I am).

The only problem is now I need to get hold of some evidence. All of the letters and proof I had were lost in the post when applying for ESA the first time.

I've emailed my local borough disability team asking them to send me a letter. I'm hoping that, along with my DLA letters should be sufficient.

Will my doctor write me a letter if I make an appointment?

Indie_Kid

Do you have a certificate of visual impairment / SS310 card from social services?

Your GP should write a letter.

Warning - if you request a SS310 card from social services, it will not say blind on it. It will say severely sight impaired. This may not be accepted.

greenorange

sh1305 wrote: »

Do you have a certificate of visual impairment / SS310 card from social services?

Your GP should write a letter.

Warning - if you request a SS310 card from social services, it will not say blind on it. It will say severely sight impaired. This may not be accepted.

I've just checked and I have a yellow card which I believe is the one you're referring to. It states 'The holder of this card is registered as: sight impaired/partially sighted with the London Borough of XXXXXX' and contains my details.

I guess I'll send that, along with my DLA letters and hope for the best.

Thanks!

Whether SFE require someone to be completely blind/registered blind, rather than sight impaired/partially sighted, I'm not sure of. Hopefully it's accepted.

Indie_Kid

Yeah, that's the one.