Mick explains the situation as I understand it, the reason I
rarely recommend travel costs. An exception would be if the student
could show that the choice of accommodation was limited by disability:
e.g., a house had been converted for wheelchair access, regular
treatment was provided locally, essential care staff were unwilling to
move. Under these circumstances, the student is not facing the same
choices as others, i.e., the student cannot take up on-campus
accommodation or the like. As a general rule, though (while allowing
that no two cases are identical), if any other student living in the
same place and following the same course faced the same expense, DSA
should not pay for travel. As has been noted, I will generally advise
such students to claim support through the hardship fund.
Regards, Bernard
On Wed, 29 Oct 2003 11:50:57 EST Michael Trott <[log in to unmask]>
wrote:
> 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. >>
----------------------
Bernard Doherty
Student Adviser
ACCESS Centre
Anglia Polytechnic University
Tel: 01223 363271 x2534
Fax: 01223 417730
Minicom: 01223 576155
[log in to unmask]
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