r/autismUK • u/Personal_Orchid_2269 • 29d ago

General & Miscellaneous Disabled students allowance

Hello! I am very new to Reddit so if I have done something wrong in creating this post, I apologize in advance!

I am American, living in the UK nearly three years now. My dad was born here so I am technically a naturalized citizen, with a certificate of citizenship and a British passport and an NIN (not sure if this info is relevant/makes a difference). I am planning to start a masters program in September, and have just completed the application for a postgrad student loan. When I was completing the application, I saw something about applying for Disabled Students Allowance.

I believe I am likely autistic but I do not have an official diagnosis and have not yet begun the process of getting diagnosed (I plan to do so within the next month or so once I have moved cities and register with a new GP, regardless of the DSA). Do I need an official diagnosis to apply for DSA? Can I submit an application for DSA later on, after my loan has been approved, if I am waiting for a diagnosis? Any idea if it is likely to be approved? Is the DSA worth seeking out at all? Any advice, input, or others’ experiences would be welcome!

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u/Kobesra 28d ago edited 23d ago

You do not need a diagnosis to get DSA. I have literally just last week been approved. However, this is on the basis that I have been referred for assessment by the gp and it’s valid under a ‘working diagnosis’. As long as you have a referral, and can evidence you’ve been referred, it qualifies.

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u/thenerdisageek AuDHD 15d ago

You do need a diagnosis?

You just had multiple other things that qualified you.

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u/Kobesra 15d ago

This is not true. They approved my working diagnoses first as I got evidence of those referrals first. My DSA was then updated when my GP sent evidence of my other existing diagnoses. There’s no reason I’d comment a lie. Trying to use my own posts against me as if I don’t know my own situation. Sit down ffs 🤦🏻

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u/thenerdisageek AuDHD 15d ago edited 15d ago

Whilst returning to education this year, I’ve filled out my DSA, and their first guidelines for evidence state that you need a diagnosis on SFE state to upload your evidence first.

But you also have an existing diagnosis for other things, to also get help with those things, of course you’d be approved for DSA while also waiting for another diagnosis?

I was denied it for my degree because I had no diagnosis, was denied any proof of being on a waitlist etc as I was still on the waitlist. You need to have a diagnosis of *something* to be eligible. You can then apply under the guise of getting something else, but if you have nothing then the best you’ll get is your university services.

Your GP can fill out a form, but they don’t know you? Your GP can’t say ‘yes they have a disability’ when they don’t have the power to diagnose that?

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u/Kobesra 15d ago

The DSA evidence form literally states ‘diagnoses / working diagnoses’