> Date: Fri, 30 Apr 1999 13:08:29 +0100
> Subject: DSA for over 50s
> From: "Quinn, Christine" <[log in to unmask]>
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Reply-to: [log in to unmask]
> Is it true the Government has just announced restoration of DSA to over
> 50s (via a press release - anyone got it?)
Hot off the press!!
News
195/99
30 April 1999
DISABLED STUDENTS’ ALLOWANCES TO CONTINUE FOR
MATURE
STUDENTS - BARONESS BLACKSTONE
Minister for Education and Employment Baroness
Blackstone today confirmed that full-time disabled
students of all ages on undergraduate higher
education courses will be able to claim grant
allowances to help meet study-related costs.
Baroness Blackstone said:
"We want to ensure that everyone has the chance to
benefit from higher education, whether they have a
disability or not. We have decided that disabled
students in higher education, who have particular
needs, should continue to have access to extra
assistance at any age."
Undergraduate students of all ages will continue
to be eligible for help towards study-related
costs arising from a disability. An amendment to
the Education (Student Support) Regulations 1999
will be effective from the start of the new
academic year.
This additional support will be provided through
disabled students allowances (DSAs), which are
available at the moment. The allowances will
continue to be available as grants, irrespective
of income.
Welcoming the announcement, Sophie Corlett, the
Policy Director of Skill, the National Bureau for
Students with Disabilities, said: "This is
excellent news and will help ensure that disabled
students aged 50 and over continue to have access
to lifelong learning."
DSAs available for the 1999/2000 academic year
from September can meet:
up to £10,250 a year of costs
of a non-medical personal
helper; up to £4,055 of costs,
for the whole of the course,
of major items of specialist
equipment, such as a computer
and special furniture; up to
£1,350 a year of any other
costs or to top-up the above
amounts; and travel costs
arising from the disability
and associated with attendance
at the institution or with
study attendance as a
necessary part of the course
at an overseas institution.
NOTES TO EDITORS
1. Further information on support for disabled
students in higher education can be found in the
booklet Bridging the Gap, available free on 0800
731 9133.
2. DSAs have always been available for all ages of
students on undergraduate HE courses, but loans
have until now been limited to students aged under
50 at the start of their course. The new
Regulations, which apply to students starting
courses in the 1999/2000 academic year and to most
who started in 1998/99, came into force in March.
They extend loans to 50-54 year olds who intend to
return to employment, but have the effect of
limiting DSAs to students eligible for loans. The
amendment will restore eligibility for DSAs
irrespective of age to disabled students who meet
the normal requirements for eligibility for
student support.
PRESS ENQUIRIES: Jane Mayhew 0171 925 5361
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Kate Ormrod 0171 925 5373
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OUT OF HOURS DUTY PAGER: 01459 105 933
PUBLIC ENQUIRIES: 0171 925 5555.
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Elaine Shillcock
Access Summit
St Peter's House
Precinct Centre,
Oxford Road,
Manchester 13 9GH
Tel 0161 272 7847
Fax 0161 272 7001
Minicom 0161 273 7307
e-mail [log in to unmask]
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