Someone receiving Disabled Students’ Allowance (DSA) reports a change of circumstances either to Student Finance (SFE/SLC/SFW/SAAS/FSD/DSA) or to their DSA supplier depending on what has changed.
If it affects your funding, eligibility, or needs assessment → tell Student Finance.
If it affects delivery of support or equipment → tell your supplier.
Changes which affect your eligibility or entitlement must be reported to Student Finance (SFE/SLC/SFW/SAAS/FSD/DSA) directly.
You leave your course
You suspend or interrupt your studies
You change course
You change university or college
You switch from full‑time to part‑time (or vice versa)
You repeat a year
Your disability or condition worsens, meaning you may need additional support
You need more support than originally assessed (e.g., more NMH hours, additional equipment)
Your condition changes significantly (improves or worsens)
Your study pattern changes (e.g., distance learning vs in‑person)
You move address if it affects equipment delivery, travel or support arrangements
Log in to your Student Finance account and use “change your circumstances” (this is also mentioned in the application process)
Or contact directly by phone or secure message.
Your supplier handles the practical side of your support (equipment, software, NMH, training). You contact them when the change affects delivery or use of support, not your entitlement.
You need to rearrange ATT or NMH sessions (study skills, mentoring, etc.)
You need to change a software, not want to, need to.
You change address only for equipment delivery or collection, not for Travel or Taxi.
Your equipment breaks, is lost, or needs repair
You need training on new software
You want to query how support is delivered (e.g., remote vs in‑person)
You have timetable changes that affect NMH/ATT scheduling
You need to return equipment after leaving the course
These are changes that may affect your funding, so they must go to SFE:
| Change | Report to SFE? | Report to Supplier? |
|---|---|---|
| Leaving or suspending your course | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
| Changing course or university | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
| Switching full‑time ↔ part‑time | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
| Condition worsens and you need more support | ✅ Yes | ❌ Supplier may also need to know |
| Moving address (affects equipment delivery) | ⚠️ Usually yes | ✅ Yes |
| Needing additional NMH hours | ✅ Yes | ❌ Supplier cannot approve extra hours |
| Equipment no longer suitable due to condition change | ✅ Yes | ⚠️ Supplier may help assess |
| Changing study mode (distance learning, placement year) | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
These do not affect your entitlement and should not be reported to SFE:
Changing your timetable
Changing your address if it does not affect support or Taxi and Travel
Wanting to reschedule NMH/ATT sessions
Needing equipment repair or replacement
Needing replacement consumables (ink, batteries, etc.)
Changing your phone number or email
Asking for additional training on software you already have (assuming you have awarded hours left)
Querying switching between remote and in‑person NMH/ATT (supplier handles this)
Examples:
Student has Software A, but after an OS update it no longer works.
The university switches to a platform that Software A cannot integrate with.
The student moves to a new device (e.g., ARM64 laptop) and the software is not supported.
Examples:
A recommended microphone or headset is no longer manufactured.
A specific ergonomic item is discontinued.
An Assessor must approve a like‑for‑like or equivalent alternative. No full reassessment needed.
Examples:
A perpetual licence is no longer available.
A subscription model becomes mandatory.
An Assessor approves the updated procurement route or alternative. No full reassessment needed.
Examples:
Student originally approved for desktop software, but now needs cloud‑based due to placement work.
Student needs a Mac‑compatible version instead of Windows.
An Assessor must approve a like‑for‑like or equivalent alternative. No full reassessment needed.
If the equipment is:
essential to the student’s support, and
cannot be repaired or replaced under warranty
An Assessor must approve a like‑for‑like or equivalent alternative. No full reassessment needed.
Example: “Software X no longer works on my device.”
Screenshots
Error logs
Compatibility statements (From Study Tech Technical Support OR the manufacturer.
Confirmation from manufacturer (if required/requested)
They request a variation approval, not a full reassessment.
This is usually:
1–2 paragraphs
Confirms the issue
Recommends the alternative
Sent to the funding body
No new assessment report. No new appointment. No student action required.
Just for contrast:
Change of address
Change of bank details
Change of contact info
Change of delivery location
Change of supplier scheduling
Change of university admin contact
These are pure admin and do not involve the assessor at all.