The Education Committee will hold a one-off session on the way Disabled Students’ Allowance is administered under a newly reformed system that has been subcontracted to Capita and Study Tech Ltd.
MPs will question practitioners, managing directors for the two companies, Minister Baroness Barran and senior officials from the Student Loans Company and Department for Education.
Disabled Students’ Allowance (DSA) grants help people with a disability, neurodivergence, mental health condition or long-term health problem cover costs for technology or equipment needed for their studies in higher education. The Government spends £136m on DSA a year. In 2021/22 there were 83,111 students in receipt of DSA across 557 higher education institutions.
Following a change to the system which began in February 2024, Capita and Study Tech now carry out needs assessments of students in England and Wales who apply for DSA. The companies also provide assistive technology and training for how to use it. This work is carried out after the Student Loans Company receives a student’s application and confirms they are eligible.
