Special Support Loan - University

J_4
J_4 Online Community Member Posts: 3 Listener
in Education and skills
When applying for student finance, to start uni this september it asked for evidence I received PIP for the special support loan. I provided this and it says my evidence has been approved. 
But I have no clue what the special support loan is. Google just tells me the eligibility which I am , but what does it actually do

Comments

  • Hannah_Alumni
    Hannah_Alumni Scope alumni Posts: 7,866 Championing
    Hello @J_4

    Welcome to the community! :) Congratulations on your university placement! What are you going to be studying?

    A Special Support Loan is:
    If you are eligible to claim benefits as a full-time undergraduate student or are deaf and qualify for DSA, you may be eligible for a higher amount of maintenance loan than other students.
    You may be eligible if you:
    • get Personal Independence Payment (PIP) or Disability Living Allowance (DLA)
    • qualify for a disability premium or severe disability premium in means-tested benefits
    • receive income-related ESA
    • are deaf and qualify for DSA 
    Part of the maintenance loan is the special support element. This is worth up to £4,221 and does not count as income in your means-tested benefits.
    Scope has an information page about Funding for disabled students that you may find helpful to read :)
  • J_4
    J_4 Online Community Member Posts: 3 Listener
    Thank you, I don't know which Uni yet it is between the university of york and the university of Liverpool.
    Does that mean I will get a higher maintenance loan than the amount based on my mums salary?
  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Online Community Member Posts: 64,463 Championing
    Yes, it’s means you will receive more financial support. 
  • Hannah_Alumni
    Hannah_Alumni Scope alumni Posts: 7,866 Championing
    @j_4 Yeah, you'll have more financial support. Good luck with university! Please keep us updated :)<3 
  • Bexnco
    Bexnco Online Community Member Posts: 4 Listener

    Hi @poppy123456, @Hannah_Alumni and @J_4

    I know I'm jumping on a bit of an old thread but I'm helping my daughter sort her student finance for her Sept start too and we also have been asked for proof of PIP for Special Support Element but have been told today she is not entitled to any extra support because of our income. She is entitled to maintenance loan (around £6500) but they said the SSE is also means tested so no extra support. This seems unfair. I also query why, if the maintainance loan was all she was entitled to, did they ask for PIP proof. Any ideas please? I thought the special support would be 'extra' to help her out?!

    Thanks 🙂

  • J_4
    J_4 Online Community Member Posts: 3 Listener
    https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/871762#Comment_871762

    Hi,

    I also sent my PIP in, but don’t seem to actually have any additional financial support, now that I know my amount. I have £7000 in my maintenance, which is just what I’d have got based on income.

  • Bexnco
    Bexnco Online Community Member Posts: 4 Listener

    Same as us then, she'd have got the same amount whether we'd have declared and sent the PIP evidence in or not! 🤷🏼‍♀️ I thought it was supposed to be extra support! 😏

  • forgoodnesssake
    forgoodnesssake Online Community Member Posts: 511 Empowering

    My son has never got any extra in fact he's never even got any Special Support Loan due to our income (which is not much either) However this year he is treated as independent as he is over 25 so it will be interesting to see if he qualifies (proof of PIP sent )

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