The DSA should pay for additional costs arising as a result of the
disability. It is not clear the the student incurs additional costs in comparison to
another student without a disability travelling the same distance.
If there is an additional cost then one would have to factor in the
contribution made by the mobility allowance. If the student has a car this is in fact
quite a substantial benefit for a student.
The actual cost of running a car over 90 miles is probably £22.50 - this is
based based on the Inland Revenue allowance of 25p per mile before the benefit
becomes taxable. This is what it would cost a non-disabled student. The petrol
costs are perhaps £8 per day.
Botyh students would have to pay the petrol costs but the non disabled
student would need to buy a car and pay other running costs.
Therefore one could argue that if the student has been provided with a car
they are in theory £14.50 per day better off. This is hardly likely to be the
case but it would be hard to whittle away that sum to put the disabled student
in a worse finacial position than his or her peers.
Although the student is faced with a large expenditure it simply is not clear
that this is as a result of their disability.
As there is no guidance on this some calculation has to be made to prove the
additional cost. This can only be done by comparing the student's costs with
another student faced with the same journey.
Mick Trott
In a message dated 29/10/03 11:34:29 GMT Standard Time,
[log in to unmask] writes:
<< I have recently been asked by two students
who have cars under the 'motorbility'
scheme and are blue badge holders whether
there is an allowance for additional help
with petrol costs.
Both need to drive to University because
they have mobility problems and cannot use
public transport.
I gather that the current allowance they
each receive covers some petrol costs but
not all. One in particular is paying
c£130 per month because of distance she
travels of about 90 miles (round trip) per
day. >>
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