Can Students claim ESA at UNI for mental illness?

Dawn248

My daughter is in the support group for ESA due to depression, anxiety, social anxiety and self harm behaviour. She is using this to help pay for EMDR therapy at £70 a session.
She has a place at a uni (if she is well enough to go) but we would need to make sure she has support set up before she goes.
She'll need extra funds to get the train home as much as possible when she needs extra support and to pay for a private psychotherapist- the NHS and University Student Support is not going to cut it.
Would DSA be granted for travel and therapy costs or can she still claim ESA? Her ESA was granted because social anxiety prevented her from working or studying but if she goes to Uni won't this be void-despite the fact she still has self harm impulses and depressed episodes?
Any advice on completing the DSA form would also be appreciated. Thanks X

xylophone

She is using this to help pay for EMDR therapy at £70 a session.

Has she tried the NHS?

http://www.dorsethealthcare.nhs.uk/WS-Dorset-HealthCare/Downloads/Managing%20Your%20Health/Therapy%20Information%20Leaflets/L139-09EMDR.pdf

Jack'sMum

Hi there

I was in a similar situation with my son, he is now in full time, advanced education and does receive ESA (IR). Some very helpful forum members put me onto this website:

https://www.disabilityrightsuk.org/how-we-can-help/helplines/disabled-students-helpline

It has been a real lifeline as the rules for disabled students and benefits can be very complicated.
I believe to receive ESA as a student you have to meet all 3 of the following criteria:

1) Be in receipt of DLA or PIP, and
2) Be in 'Full Time' 'Advanced' education, and
3) Not be a 'Qualifying Young Person'.*
*A ‘Qualifying Young Person’ is someone who is: 16, 17, 18 or 19 years old and in full-time
NON-advanced education.

Some of their Student Income is counted as income for ESA. Generally (since 2006) students in receipt of DLA/PIP receive 'Special Support Loans' and 'Special Support Grants' from Student Finance. Whereas non-disabled students receive 'Maintenance Loans' and 'Maintenance Grants'. As a general rule when the phrase 'Special Support.....' is in the name of the loan and/or grant it is not treated as income.

Re: DSA - Fill out the form as thoroughly as possible. I was then asked to take my son to a DSA assessment, the appointment lasted around an hour and a half, the assessor went through all my son's problems and medical history and then made recommendations for a support package which included travel allowance, specialist study equipment grant and mentor support. There are many categories of help available depending on the individual needs. Be sure to take all your medical evidence/letters etc along with you to the appointment.

Hope that helps a bit for now,
Jack'sMum.

w06

DSA won't cover treatment costs etc. It's to cover the extra costs associated with being a disabled student

I think I'm right sayign that ESA as a student is only paid if you also recieve PIP or DLA.

You may struggle to argue that social anxiety is a major problem (in applying for pip) whilst also commencing a university course and travellign backwards and forwards to it.

Dawn248

w06 wrote: »

DSA won't cover treatment costs etc. It's to cover the extra costs associated with being a disabled student

I think I'm right sayign that ESA as a student is only paid if you also recieve PIP or DLA.

You may struggle to argue that social anxiety is a major problem (in applying for pip) whilst also commencing a university course and travellign backwards and forwards to it.

Yes, I imagined ESA might stop if it's being paid because she's unable to work/study-and going to uni will clearly contradict that-but depression and anxiety changes on a weekly/daily/hourly basis. To be honest I have no idea if she's up to it and but she's taken a year out for treatment and is determined to try and have a life.

Dawn248

xylophone wrote: »

Has she tried the NHS?

http://www.dorsethealthcare.nhs.uk/WS-Dorset-HealthCare/Downloads/Managing%20Your%20Health/Therapy%20Information%20Leaflets/L139-09EMDR.pdf

The NHS for mental illness? I could go into detail but basically she'd be dead if we were still waiting for THAT to happen.

Dawn248

Jack'sMum wrote: »

Hi there

I was in a similar situation with my son, he is now in full time, advanced education and does receive ESA (IR). Some very helpful forum members put me onto this website:

https://www.disabilityrightsuk.org/how-we-can-help/helplines/disabled-students-helpline

It has been a real lifeline as the rules for disabled students and benefits can be very complicated.
I believe to receive ESA as a student you have to meet all 3 of the following criteria:

1) Be in receipt of DLA or PIP, and
2) Be in 'Full Time' 'Advanced' education, and
3) Not be a 'Qualifying Young Person'.*
*A ‘Qualifying Young Person’ is someone who is: 16, 17, 18 or 19 years old and in full-time
NON-advanced education.

Some of their Student Income is counted as income for ESA. Generally (since 2006) students in receipt of DLA/PIP receive 'Special Support Loans' and 'Special Support Grants' from Student Finance. Whereas non-disabled students receive 'Maintenance Loans' and 'Maintenance Grants'. As a general rule when the phrase 'Special Support.....' is in the name of the loan and/or grant it is not treated as income.

Re: DSA - Fill out the form as thoroughly as possible. I was then asked to take my son to a DSA assessment, the appointment lasted around an hour and a half, the assessor went through all my son's problems and medical history and then made recommendations for a support package which included travel allowance, specialist study equipment grant and mentor support. There are many categories of help available depending on the individual needs. Be sure to take all your medical evidence/letters etc along with you to the appointment.

Hope that helps a bit for now,
Jack'sMum.

Hi and thanks so much for your reply. I'll certainly give that helpline a call. I'm not expecting she'll get much/any DSA after reading up on it, as with mental illness she won't need equipment but any additional funds so she can come home regularly would be reassuring so we'll give it a try. X

Jack'sMum

Yes, definitely apply for DSA, my son's award also includes an allowance for weekly counselling sessions with a specialist in his particular mental health difficulty, it helps him cope with the social aspects of being on the course.

It's also probably worth knowing that most disabled students living away from home are entitled to claim housing benefit (even in halls of residence). There is a fact sheet about this on the website link I posted earlier. The telephone helpline is only open a few hours a week and it took me around 30mins to get through (probably due to high demand) so I now email them my queries instead and they usually respond within a few hours, they are very knowledgeable and supportive. They will also be able to advice you about her ESA. Disabled students receiving DLA/PIP are allowed to claim it because they need extra support to improve their prospects into employment (as in 'Employment' and 'Support' Allowance) so don't be too quick to think she'll no longer qualify just because she wants to try and improve her chances of having a life and getting a job etc. The breakdown of the DSA award is also really useful for evidence of need(s) for ESA (and PIP) as it highlights particular areas where the extra support is needed. For example: social support, counselling, mentoring, specialist equipment, non-medical helpers, travel requirements etc.....

If I can think of anything else I'll let you know x