ADVICE AND SUPPORT
The Disabled Student Support Team at Shu
Sheffield Hallam University has a specialist team who you may have already met. The team provides advice and guidance and co-ordinates services for disabled students.
The team can offer advice and support to deaf and hearing impaired students, visually impaired students, physically disabled students, dyslexic students, students with medical conditions (such as epilepsy, asthma or ME), and students with mental health problems. In fact, anyone with an illness, condition, or impairment which may affect them during their course. The team can assist you with:
For more information contact :
SHU Disabled Student Support Team
Student Learning Services, 5th Floor, Owen Building
Tel: 0114 225 3813 or 3964. Fax: 0114 225 2161
Minicom: 0114 225 3964
Email: disability-support@shu.ac.uk
www.shu.ac.uk/services/sls/support/disability/
The Advice Centre
The Advice Centre provides a generalist advice and information service to all Hallam students.We are here to make sure you are aware of your rights and responsibilities. We can assist with any queries you may have regarding academic issues as well as benefits, money, housing, finance, grants, employment, and legal problems.
Contact the Advice Centre on:
Tel No:-0114 225 4148
Freephone No:- 0800 0732 002
Email: advicecentre@shu.ac.uk
Web: www.hallamunion.org/advice
The Student Union
The Education Officer and Welfare and Community Officer are part of the officer Committee. The Disabled Students Rep is part of the Union Representatives. They are all elected by students each year and are here to represent you.
If there are any general issues you think the University or the Students Union should be aware of, the Disabled Students Rep is the person to contact. For further information contact:
Hallam Union Executive Officers
Sheffield Hallam Students Union
The HUBS Paternoster Row Sheffield S1 2QQ
Tel: 0114 225 4124
FUNDING & MONEY
Disabled Students Allowance (DSA)
You may qualify for a Disabled Students Allowance (DSA) from Student Finance England. This allowance is for additional costs of study incurred due to disability and is not means tested. The Disabled Student Support Team can advise you on which expenses can be met, and they can also make your application for you. You may also be eligible for extra Student Finance England funding if you have dependants (see Students with Dependants leaflet).
Apart from the DSA there are no extra additions to your funding (Student Loans, Grants and Bursaries).
Access to Learning Fund
Students with extra costs due to disability may be eligible for financial assistance from the University’s Access to Learning Fund. You can download an application form fron your shuspace or pick one up from the Student Finance Centre, Level 2 of the Surrey Building. The Advice Centre can help if you require assistance with the application form.
DISABLED STUDENTS AND BENEFITS
If you are disabled you may fall into one of the few categories of students who are able to claim benefits. If you think that you may be entitled to any benefits contact the Advice Centre and we can do a full benefit check to ensure that you are getting everything you should be.
Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit
If you are a full time student and satisfy one of the following conditions then you are eligible to claim and Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit.
ESA
You may qualify for Employment Support Allowance if you are a full time student and
Jobseekers Allowance
If you satisfy the following condition you are eligible to claim Jobseekers Allowance, Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit.
NB: This list is not exhaustive and you may have other circumstances which mean you are able to claim benefits as a full time student. If you are in any doubt you should contact the Advice Centre
These benefits are means tested and any Adult Dependants’ Grant, Student Loan, or Maintenance Grant you receive will be taken into account as income. This means that you may receive a reduced amount, or even nothing, especially during term time. The Advice Centre can check entitlement.
NB: The government is introducing a new benefit known as Universal Credit in October 2013 which will replace some of the benefits above
Disability Living Allowance (DLA)
This is a benefit for people who have difficulty looking after themselves or people who find it difficult to walk or get around. You don’t need to have someone helping you to qualify. DLA is not means tested so it is paid on top of any student funding, earnings, income or (most) benefits you may have. DLA is divided into two parts.
1. The Care Component is paid if you have difficulty coping with personal care needs. Both physical impairments and mental health issues can be taken into account. It is payable at three rates:
2. The Mobility Component is paid to those who have difficulty getting around. It is payable at two rates:
NB: The government intends to introduce a new benefit Personal Independence Payments (PIP) to replace DLA. From April 2013 all new claimants will eligible for PIP, whilst it is expected those who currently receive DLA will be transferred to PIP between 2013 -2016.
Incapacity Benefit-
NB: this was abolished for new claimants from the 27th of October 2008
Incapacity Benefit is paid to people unable to work because of illness or disability. Incapacity Benefit is not means tested, so the amount you get does not depend on your income or savings. There is nothing to prevent students from claiming it. Incapacity Benefit has been replaced by ESA (see below).
Employment Support Allowance (ESA)
From October 2008, ESA replaced Incapacity Benefit (IB) and Income Support (IS) on the grounds of incapacity or disability for new claimants. The Benefit Agency sometimes try and argue that if you are well enough to study then you are fit for work. We can help you appeal if this happens.
ESA is for people aged 16 to 65 who have limited capability for work.
There are two strands of ESA:-
1. Contributory ESA (Replaces Incapacity Benefit)
2. Income – Related ESA (Replaces Income Support)
Claim by calling the Benefits Enquiry Line:
Tel: 0800 88 22 00
Text phone: 0800 24 33 55 (for hearing and speech difficulties)
Email:- mailto:BEL-Customer-Services@dwp.gsi.gov.uk
or by visiting Jobcentre Plus.
Working Tax Credit
Most people claim Working Tax Credit because they have children. However, even if you don’t have children you can still claim if:
Contact the Tax Credit Helpline on:
Tel: 0845 300 3900
Text phone: 0845 300 3909
Open Mon-Fri. from 8am to 8pm – seven days a week except for Christmas day, Boxing Day and New Years Day
Affect of benefits on Funding
When Student Finance England assesses your income, any funds you receive from the following sources are ignored:
NHS Charges
You may qualify for full exemption from NHS costs, or for help paying towards costs if you are on a low income. Fill out a HC1 form to get help on the basis of a low income.
You automatically qualify for full exemption (and do not need to fill in the form) if you:
For further information and for HC1 Forms contact :
NHS Business Services Authority
Tel: 0845 0850 1166
Web: http://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/healthcosts/1128.aspx
THE EQUALITY ACT
From 1 October 2010, the Equality Act replaced most of the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA). It brings together a total of 116 pieces of legislation, but the Disability Equality Duty in the DDA continues to apply. The Equality Act aims at ending the discrimination which many disabled people face. It gives disabled people rights in the areas of:
Disability discrimination and the law
It is unlawful to discriminate against disabled students by treating them less favourably than others, Universities and Colleges are required to provide reasonable adjustments to provision where disabled students or other disabled people might otherwise be substantially disadvantaged.
Accommodation
The University Housing and Accommodation Office have a limited number of places for students with special needs.For further information contact:
SHU Accommodation Services
38/40 Howard Street
Tel: 0114 225 5555
Fax: 0114 225 4501 Minicom: 0114 225 4513
Email: accommodation@shu.ac.uk
Web: www.shu.ac.uk/accommodation
Student Learning Services
The Student Learning Services department offers a range of services for disabled students with designated staff on each campus who can provide support in various ways.
Car Parking
The Disabled Student Support Team can help you find a parking space if you have a blue badge.
contact them on:
Student Learning Services, 5th Floor, Owen Building
Tel: 0114 225 3813 or 3964. Fax: 0114 225 2161
Minicom: 0114 225 3964
Email: disability-support@shu.ac.uk
www.shu.ac.uk/services/sls/support/disability/
Useful Organisations & Contacts
The “Disabled Students Handbook” has a full list of local and national groups.
Learning Centres
City Campus (Adsetts) Tel: 0114 225 3333
Collegiate Campus Tel: 0114 225 3333
Student Finance England
Tel: 0845 300 5090 (local call rates apply)
Open: Mon-Fri from 8am to 8pm
Sat-Sun from 9am to 5.30pm
Web:
This information is contained in our leaflet, which you can print :
Disabled Students Leaflet 12-13
Disabled Students 11-12 - info on the advice and support available. Funding, money and disability discrimination.
Disabled Students Large Print 12-13
Useful Links:
Skill – National Bureau for Students with Disabilities – Information & advice for disabled students
Disabled student Support Team- for further information on what Shu’s services for disabled students
>Can’t find what you’re looking for or need further help? Don’t hesitate to contact us on 0114 225 4148.