University costs

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jennierobertson
jennierobertson Online Community Member Posts: 4 Listener
edited October 2021 in Benefits and income
Hi, my daughter is off to university in September and needs a second room for a carer. We are being told we have to fund this as well as our daughters room and wondered if anyone else has had any experience of this and if so did you get any additional help from any other organisations?

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  • April2018mom
    April2018mom Posts: 2,863 Championing
    Hello! 
    Have you contacted Student Finance UK or not? Visit this link for more information https://www.ucas.com/finance/additional-funding/disabled-students-allowances-dsas
    Check eligibilty at https://www.gov.uk/disabled-students-allowances-dsas/eligibility
    Definitely apply for Disabled Student Allowance as well. Use the money to pay for equipment that will enable you to study.
    What course are you hoping to do? What are your interests? By all means, choose a course based on other people’s advice but do also remember you need to enjoy it. There is no point in signing up for a course you will eventually hate in other words. 
    How old is your daughter now? When I went away to college, I received funding to pay for a taxi to and from college that was it. Explain what she will need. Be honest. 
  • Adrian_Scope
    Adrian_Scope Posts: 11,754 Online Community Programme Lead
    edited September 2019
    Hello @jennierobertson and welcome to the community. 
    It may be worth you giving the Disability Rights Disabled Student Helpline a call to see if they have any advise. https://www.disabilityrightsuk.org/how-we-can-help/helplines/disabled-students-helpline

    What is your daughter studying? Best of luck to her! :)
  • jennierobertson
    jennierobertson Online Community Member Posts: 4 Listener
    Thanks. She’s doing a drama degree!
  • forgoodnesssake
    forgoodnesssake Online Community Member Posts: 515 Empowering
    Disabled students allowance and Student Finance England will never cover this.  It is definitely worth contacting your local social services.  My son is at Uni and needs a helper room and (rather amazingly actually) it is funded by social services along with some of his support (the rest is NHS CHC).  Also the uni do a slightly discounted rate for carer rooms so speak to them too.  If you have no joy try the Snowdon Trust https://www.snowdontrust.org/ who can specifially help with carer room costs.

  • jennierobertson
    jennierobertson Online Community Member Posts: 4 Listener
    Thanks, social services won’t pay and private company rent the room so no discount. Will try the charity you suggested!
  • forgoodnesssake
    forgoodnesssake Online Community Member Posts: 515 Empowering
    It's really awful how much of a postcode lottery this is (along with almost everything else) :(