Hi rob,
Yes, it's quite a dilemma. While the benefits people will take into account
your expenditure, DSA and loans would probably take you over the limit.
However, it might be worthwhile having a chat with your local benefits
department to see what the situation is.
I agree with Elvira and Claire about the charging of a single rate if the
accommodation is normally leased by two or more students. At least this way
you get the larger accommodation but pay the lower price.
Another thought struck me when I was considering your plight, what have the
university done to accommodate your dog spending? Do they expect you to use
the garden, or are they providing a pen?
Regards, John.
John Gregory
Access Officer
Environmental Services Department
Ext. 1630
DDI. 01295 221630
-----Original Message-----
From: Rob Powell [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: 12 September 2003 13:25
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: reasonable adjustments under DDA/Senda
Thanks very much John, I'd certainly qualify re the
disability rules,
it's the income that's the potencial problem.
I wander if I'd have a problem, because I own another house
in
Chippenham. Part of my problem is that I've got to pay my
mortgage
whilst I'm studdying.
Rob
-----Original Message-----
From: Discussion list for disabled students and their
support staff.
[mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf Of John Gregory
Sent: Friday, September 12, 2003 11:30 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: reasonable adjustments under DDA/Senda
Rob,
As a blind person myself, I sympathise with your
predicament. As an
under
Graduate I investigated the possibility of claiming housing
benefit.
I
cannot remember whether I actually did get it in the end,
but I do
know it
was available. I contacted a colleague here in my LA and
she replied
with
the folowing:
"Disabled students are indeed eligible to claim housing
benefit and
council
tax benefit. But the important word here is claim. Housing
benefit and
council tax benefit are means tested benefits so, as I am
sure you are
aware, we have to look at the income and capital of the
claimant and
their
partner when assessing their entitlement. It is not
possible to tell
you
how much income and capital a person can have to qualify
because it
depends
on their circumstances and how much rent or council tax they
pay.
Student
grants and student loans (whether or not they get a loan)
are taken
into
account. Students who are not pensioners, or disabled or
lone parents
are
not eligible to claim benefit. To be classed as disabled
they have to
qualify for the disability premium. This is a premium that
is used in
the
assessment of their claim. To qualify for this premium they
must be
registered blind or be in receipt of one of the following
benefits:
Attendance allowance or disability living allowance; Tax
credit -
disablement addition; Mobility allowance; Long term
incapacity benefit
(i.e.
that is that they have been receiving it for more than 12
months);
Severe
Disablement Allowance"
Hope this helps.
Regards, John.
John Gregory
Access Officer
Environmental Services Department
Ext. 1630
DDI. 01295 221630
-----Original Message-----
From: Rob Powell
[mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: 08 September 2003 22:40
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: reasonable adjustments
under
DDA/Senda
Is the hardship fund normally available to
post-grad
students?
Rob
-----Original Message-----
From: Discussion list for disabled students
and their
support staff.
[mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf
Of BRYAN
JONES
Sent: Monday, September 08, 2003 9:05 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: reasonable adjustments under
DDA/Senda
I would suggest that you speak to the
disability
officer or
the head
of student services. The institution could
legitimately
fund the
extra cost of your accommodation by making
an award to
you
through their Hardship fund. £2000 or so is
what you
/ the
accommodation service require, which is well
within
the
limits of
what individual students can be awarded
through this
fund.
On 6 Sep 03, at 6:10, Rob Powell wrote:
> Hi all,
>
> A question for you guys, with which I
could do with
some
> advice/guidance.
>
> I'm a totally blind student starting at
Bristol Uni
in
September.
(oh
> it's September now)!. I've got a flat,
owned by the
university that
> has a garden, and is bigger than normal
student
accommodation,
because
> I have a guide dog.
>
> The problem is, to put it bluntly, that I
can't
afford the
rent, but
I
> need the flat. The rent is £105 per week,
plus
bills.
The cost of
a
> normal room in university accommodation
would be
about £45
including
> bills.
>
> I'm not in a position to fund the extra
costs of
this lat
from my
DSA,
> because I could only fund it from the
general
allowance,
which I've
> used for other things. The equipment
allowance is
also
over-spent,
> and the non-medical allowance is near it's
maximum.
>
> My point to the university is that a
reasonable
adjustment
to enable
> me to study is that they give me the flat
for the
same
price as a
> normal room on campus, I.E. that they
subsidise the
flat
by £60 per
> week. I'm prepared to foot the bill for
the bills,
as a
compromise.
>
> Does anyone know of any case law that
would support
this
argument,
any
> other universities that have made this
sort of
adjustment
for
disabled
> students, or any specific part of the
SENDA/DDA
codes of
practice
that
> I could quote on this one?
>
> It's fair to say I think, that the
university are
generally
> sympathetic to the problem, but they need
a hook to
hang
the thing
on.
>
> Thanks for any help, because I have to
take a 50
week let,
the
amount
> involved is about £3000 per annum, so it's
significant.
>
> Rob
> ---
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