Can You Claim Benefits If You Are Dyslexic?
By
HuutiMoney
The aim of this blog post is to explore whether you can claim benefits if you (or your child) is dyslexic. We will review if dyslexia is classed as a disability and how individuals faced with the condition can check if they are eligible for welfare benefits in the UK.
Can You Claim Benefits If You Are Dyslexic?
Yes, you can claim benefits if you are dyslexic. Since dyslexia is classed as a disability as per the Equality Act 2010, students who are faced with disabilities such as dyslexia, dyspraxia, or ADHD can claim Disabled Students’s Allowance.
If you are a full-time or part-time undergraduate or postgraduate student who qualifies for DSA, you can claim up to £25,575 per year during the 2022-2023 academic year.
If you qualify for DSA, you can get help with the following costs:
- specialist equipment such as a computer
- non-medical helpers like a British Sign Language (BSL) interpreter or specialist note taker
- Additional commute to attend courses
- disability-related study support such as printing additional copies of documents for proof-reading
Parents of children with dyslexia will be eligible for a Disability Living Allowance from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). This is a non-taxable, non-means-tested state benefit that caters to the care and mobility needs of individuals affected by dyslexia, dyspraxia or ADHD.
In addition to this, a learning disability will qualify you for Personal Independence Payment and Adult Disability Payment. Once you apply for disability benefits, the Department for Work and Pension will organise a visit by a healthcare professional to assess your condition and needs. You may also be asked to provide a doctor’s note that can serve as supportive evidence for your claim.
Based on the result of the assessment and the evidence you provide, your claim will be processed for evaluation. If it is accepted, you will receive a payment of £627.60 every four weeks in your bank, building society or credit union account.
In addition to state benefits, full-time students who are older than 18 years of age can also get financial support through government schemes.
For instance, the 16 to 19 Bursary Fund provides financial support to the most disadvantaged students so that they are able to overcome certain barriers and can remain in education. This includes bursaries for defined vulnerable groups (carers, leaving care, receiving benefits) as well as discretionary bursaries to meet living expenses (transport, meals, books, equipment)
and can be awarded by institutions using policies that are in line with national funding rules.
Free meals in further education provide disadvantaged young people with meals if they or their parents get one of the qualifying benefits
How Do You Claim Disabled Students Allowance If You Are Dyslexic?
You can claim Disabled Students Allowance (DSA) for Dyslexia in the UK if you fall under any of the following categories:
- studying a full-time or part-time course that lasts for a minimum of 12 months
- an undergraduate or postgraduate student (this includes distance learning or Open University)
- eligible for student finance from Student Finance England
To claim student finance for undergraduates you will have to fill out the DSA 1 form which can be found online. In addition to this, you will also be required to submit a copy of a “diagnostic assessment” that has been carried out by a psychologist or qualified specialist teacher.
You can submit the form at the same time when you apply for student finance through your online account or through post at the following address:
Student Finance England
PO Box 210
Darlington
DL1 9HJ
It usually takes 14 weeks for the application to be processed. If your claim is approved, you will either receive payment into a bank account or you will be provided with the equipment that you need.
How Do You Claim Disability Living Allowance If You Are Dyslexic?
To claim disability living allowance, a child should be able to meet the below eligibility criteria:
- be under 16 years of age
- living in England, Wales, a European Economic Area (EEA) country or Switzerland
- lived in the UK Great Britain for a minimum period of 6 of the recent 1 year (this applies to a child above 3 years of age)
- be a habitual resident of the UK, Ireland, Isle of Man or the Channel Islands
- should not be subject to immigration control
- require additional care or have walking difficulties
You can either apply for DLA using the Disability Living Allowance (DLA) for children claim form or calling the Disability Living Allowance helpline at 0800 121 4600 and asking for a printed form.
The Disability Living Allowance for a child under 16 years of age is currently £24.45 and £156.90, depending on the level of care the child needs. It is paid every 4 weeks into a bank account, building society account or credit union account.
How Do You Claim Personal Independence Payment If You Are Dyslexic?
To be eligible for PIP, the applicant should be able to meet these conditions:
- aged 16 years or above
- having a long-term physical or mental health condition or disability
- facing difficulty doing certain routine tasks or moving around
- the difficulties are expected to last for at least 12 months from the day they started
To apply for PIP, you can call the PIP helpline at Telephone: 0800 917 2222 or send a letter to PIP new claims at the following address to ask for the application form:
Personal Independence Payment New Claims
Post Handling Site B
Wolverhampton
WV99 1AH
While it may take a few weeks until your form is processed and a healthcare professional visits you for an assessment. Once the process is complete and your claim is approved, payments will be made every 4 weeks. You can expect payments to be between £61.85 and £92.40.
Conclusion:
The discussion in this article brings us to the conclusion that whether you are a child or an adult student, you can claim benefits if you have been classed as dyslexic by a medical practitioner and the DWP’s health assessment. Since dyslexia is classed as a disability with lifelong impact on one’s learning abilities, claimants will be able to get financial and education support to continue with education and meet their special education needs.
FAQs: Can You Claim Benefits If You Are Dyslexic?
Can you claim disability for dyslexia UK?
Yes, parents of children with dyslexia will be eligible for a Disability Living Allowance from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). This is a non-taxable, non-means-tested state benefit that caters to the care and mobility needs of individuals affected by dyslexia, dyspraxia or ADHD. In addition to this, the Disabled Students Allowance (DSA) applies to students who face difficulty in studying due to learning difficulties such as dyslexia, dyspraxia, or ADHD.
Is dyslexia a disability?
As per the Equality Act 2010, dyslexia is classified as a disability. The reason for this lies in the fact that dyslexia is a permanent condition that hinders one’s ability to read or write and also impacts their sense of direction.
What are the benefits of a Disability Living Allowance?
A Disability Living Allowance is a tax-free state benefit that provides financial support to individuals with a disability to meet the additional costs for mobility and care.
How much is the Disability Living Allowance?
Depending on the needs of the disabled individual on whose behalf the benefit is being claimed, you may be able to receive between £24.45 and £156.90 a week as DLA.
How do you prove you are disabled in the UK?
As per the definition stated in section 6 of the Equality Act 2010, an individual can claim to be disabled if they suffer from a physical or mental impairment. Additionally, this impairment should bear a substantial and long term impact on the individual’s ability to perform normal duties on their own.
References:
Disabled Students’ Allowance – learn about eligibility
Claim PIP or new ADP benefit for dyslexia and you could get up to £627 each month – Daily Record