Does this sound right (travel expenses related)

dekaspace

I am a student and on low rate DLA which is about £21 a week, I was told at first I would get travel expenses no problem as I live about 30 miles away from where I study and the costs are quite a bit.

Got award letter stating zero award for travel, and when I queried it was because I was told I get £21 a week from mobility DLA thus that covers it.

Its in Scotland, so I know its a bit different, I can see this on both sides but means I would struggle to get to class every day as the bus takes 3 hours each way factoring in traffic, and train without discount would be £19 a week.


Just checking if that was normal?

Caz3121

do you receive student funding? have you spoken to the college/university to see if they offer some assistance?

w06

Is this Disabled Students Allowance? When I claimed I had two offices, one a mile from home, the other an hours drive away. I was expected to attend the latter at least once a week. Because I received, at the time, Higher rate DLA mobility I received nothing for travel because it was considered to already be covered. Same applied when I was no longer able to drive to either office. DSA won't fund something that you're already receiving funding for from somewhere else.

dekaspace

No its a generic bursary award, in Scotland you can still get money if you are over 19, I chose to not get the normal bursary as I get ESA which is a little higher and the college bursary as good as it sounds is reliant on 100% attendance, miss even 1 class and you lose money.


I am having to drop out because of it as the normal train fares are about £20 factoring in if I go 3 days a week, and I can't use railcard as its before 9am.

pmlindyloo

dekaspace wrote: »

No its a generic bursary award, in Scotland you can still get money if you are over 19, I chose to not get the normal bursary as I get ESA which is a little higher and the college bursary as good as it sounds is reliant on 100% attendance, miss even 1 class and you lose money.


I am having to drop out because of it as the normal train fares are about £20 factoring in if I go 3 days a week, and I can't use railcard as its before 9am.

Have you tried applying for a hardship loan from the college?

Otherwise are you eligible for a budgeting loan? You would have to pay it back but it would be over a length of time and may make your budgeting a little easier.

https://www.gov.uk/budgeting-help-benefits/repayments

dekaspace

pmlindyloo wrote: »

Have you tried applying for a hardship loan from the college?

Otherwise are you eligible for a budgeting loan? You would have to pay it back but it would be over a length of time and may make your budgeting a little easier.

https://www.gov.uk/budgeting-help-benefits/repayments

Hardship at college wouldnt be elligible, instead my plan is to do a course at a closer college which has January starts, that way I can get a bus in I just chose this one as it was best college even though it was very far away and instead I will do some more volunteering until January locally.


I could possibly get costs down to £9 a week but that would involve split tickets and getting bus to next town over, Means I will have to leave 10 minutes earlier and train takes about 10 more minutes to get in but trains from there are less often and will be jam packed rather than the empty one I get now which is also quicker.


I wish now I chose my 2nd choice college which was a little nearer and had higher travel expenses and was outright told DLA doesn't matter just thought better to get train than rely on rush hour buses.