Exploring Support: Applying for Disabled Students’ Allowance (DSA)

Exploring Support: Applying for Disabled Students’ Allowance (DSA)

After a recent conversation with the nurses at Clatterbridge, they suggested that I may be eligible for a Disabled Students’ Allowance (DSA) under the long-term or chronic illness category. Until now, I’ve never really considered my lymphoedema as a “disability” or something to formally declare as an illness but after talking it through with others, it makes complete sense.

Lymphoedema has a daily impact on my life and especially on my ability to manage university, healthcare, and finances. Even if my application doesn’t result in eligibility, there’s no harm in trying. There’s potentially a lot to gain and nothing to lose from exploring extra financial support.

I want to look at the following being covered:

• Train travel between London and Chester for lymphoedema appointments – having the financial means would allow for more frequent and consistent visits

• Prescription costs for my compression stockings which need to be replaced regularly and can be expensive

• Weekly MLD (Manual Lymphatic Drainage) sessions in London, to complement NHS treatments and maintain progress

• The purchase of a personal IPC (Intermittent Pneumatic Compression) machine, such as the Flowtron 12 or LymphFlow by Haddenham, for home use

• Skin care products, including emollients, oils, and moisturisers to maintain skin health and prevent complications like cellulitis

• Memberships and subscriptions to professional support groups such as the British Lymphoedema Society (BLS) or the Lymphoedema Support Network (LSN).

• Private consultations and potential surgical costs which can be difficult to access or fund through the NHS alone.

Applying for DSA is a step towards recognising that long-term conditions like mine don’t just affect health, they affect education, access and wellbeing too. I hope that by pursuing this, I can lighten the financial and emotional load of self-managing my condition while continuing my studies and dance training.

After a lengthy meeting with the North West DSA needs assessor, we concluded that there wasn’t much financial support available specifically for my personal care needs alongside my studies. This is because my lymphoedema doesn’t directly impact my academic work in a measurable way which is the key criteria for DSA funding.

Unfortunately, this meant I wasn’t eligible for help with things like selective treatments in London or the costs of traveling back up North for hospital appointments as these are considered personal healthcare expenses, not academic ones.

Although I was initially disappointed with the outcome, the session wasn’t without positives. We discussed strategies and support that, while not directly for my leg, could still improve my ability to manage my condition within the demands of my university schedule.

Here’s what I did receive funding for:

• A laptop stand – A small but useful adjustment that lets me do coursework in bed while elevating my leg, without the laptop resting directly on it

• Taxi fares – I’ve been approved for 68 single taxi journeys between university and home. I’m not obligated to use them all, but having the option will reduce strain compared to using public transport like the underground or bus

These might seem like small wins but they represent real ways I can ease the pressure on my leg day-to-day. Less physical strain means I’ll have more time and energy to focus on both my studies and managing my lymphoedema.

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