Disability Rights UK is looking for case studies about the value of ESA and Housing Benefit to disabled students.
We wish to use these example as evidence to try and mitigate the likely impact of Universal Credit.
As regulations stand, and as the system gets rolled out more widely, most new disabled students will be excluded from being able to claim Universal Credit and Housing Benefit. The latter is especially vital, including all those in receipt of PIP or DLA, as well as students who need help towards the cost of an extra bedroom if they need an overnight carer.
There are some quite complicated technical reasons for this – some of the background is explained at www.disabilityrightsuk.org/news/2017/april/dr-uk-raise-%E2%80%9Chidden%E2%80%9D-55-esa-cut-under-25-year-olds-minister. (It’s the middle one of the above we’re concerned about here)
It will strengthen our hand if we can gather some stories about how receiving ESA and Housing Benefit has made a difference to disabled students ability to study, or especially what the consequences would have been if this income was not available.
Any relevant examples, please send to our student helpline [log in to unmask]
Thanks.
Disability Rights UK
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