DSA funded Travel and Taxi allowances and your DSA provider, Study Tech have no access to help past the assessment stage.

DSA funded Travel and Taxi allowances and your DSA provider, Study Tech have no access to help past the assessment stage.

DSA awarded Taxi and/or Fuel allowance is not something we at Study Tech/your DSA provider provide or deal with directly, DSA prefer any change of circumstance be managed via a Needs Assessor, Uni DSA or from a Student Direct. As per the guidance from DSA.

Please see here, for an overview of the entire DSA application process if your query is not restricted to Travel allowance/taxi fares.

Extreme changes, of city or locale may need to go via your assessor or a Uni DSA, however it may then be that your original assessor is no longer operational, at which point Study Tech or Capita may need to get involved.

There is differing guidance, for Students assessed by a retired DSA legacy provider who was not Study Tech or Capita pre February 2024, though it amounts to the same for the most part.

Yes, students can notify the Student Loans Company (SLC) directly about changes to their DSA-funded taxi or travel arrangements, and this can trigger a review or update without necessarily going through a Needs Assessor first.

✅ Direct Notification to SLC Is Allowed

According to the DSA Operational Supplementary Note from NADP:

“Our guidance for customers asks them to inform SLC of any changes in their circumstances in the first instance. In most cases, customers contact us first which would trigger the review of the Taxi arrangement.”

“SLC can also make amendments to Taxi arrangements from information submitted to us by Disability Advisers (DA) at Higher Education Providers.”

“Where the student is returning from a break in study or is moving to a different eligibility period (e.g. UG to PG), SLC will conduct a review of previous Taxi arrangements as we process their new DSA application.”
DSA Ops Group Supplementary Note – NADP [nadp-uk.org]

📄 Official Travel Guidance Confirms SLC Role

The Student Support Information Note (SSIN 08/25) from the Department for Education states:

“Where SLC receives a new recommendation for travel support for a student who already has a travel agreement in place, for example due to a change in travel circumstances, then SLC will not re-assess the student’s eligibility for travel support but will apply the updated recommendation.”
SSIN July 2025 – Travel Support Guidance PDF [practition....slc.co.uk]

🧾 What Triggers a Review?

You can contact SLC directly if any of the following apply:

  • Change of home or university address
  • New placement or exam location
  • Timetable changes (e.g. more journeys)
  • Taxi cost changes or supplier issues
  • Return from interruption of studies
  • Transition from undergraduate to postgraduate

📬 How to Contact SLC

You can email the DSA team directly at:

📧 Disabled.STUDENTALLOWANCES@education.gov.uk

Include:

  • Your full name
  • Customer Reference Number (CRN)
  • A brief explanation of the change
  • Any supporting evidence (e.g. new timetable, medical note)
The exception can be at the Assessment stage, where the required addresses, etc, may be included, or need to be changed before an allowance is awarded. Though normally, once you have been awarded student finance/a travel allowance we recommend following the procedure/signing in to Student Finance and following the guidance for Travel expenses.

Please refer to your DSA 2 letter for details/ask your Uni DSA advisor or contact DSA directly.


Disabled Students' Allowance (DSA) can cover reasonable taxi costs for students who cannot use public transport due to a disability. The DSA is a financial support scheme to help students with study-related costs caused by a disability, and this includes course-related travel expenses. If a student's disability prevents them from using public transport, the DSA funding body may cover the cost of travel by car or taxi. 

DSA and Course-Related Travel:
DSA aims to cover the extra costs associated with a student's disability, including travel to and from university for courses, lectures, and assessments. 

Need for Public Transport Alternatives:
If you cannot use public transport due to mobility issues, visual impairments, or other disabilities, the DSA funding body may consider covering the cost of private transport or taxis. 

Reasonable Costs:
The DSA will typically cover the reasonable cost of taxi travel. This means the cost should be justified and appropriate for the distance and circumstances. 

Individual Needs:
The amount of DSA funding for travel (including taxis) depends on the individual student's needs and the nature of their disability, rather than their household income. 

No Payment Back:
DSA funding is typically not repaid, unless you leave your course early. 

Application Process:
You should apply for DSA as part of your overall student finance application. If you need DSA for travel, you will need to provide evidence of your disability and why you cannot use public transport. 
In essence, if a student's disability prevents them from using public transport, and they need to travel to or from their course, the DSA can help cover the cost of a taxi (or other private transport) as long as the cost is deemed reasonable.. 

To update student finance regarding a change in circumstances that might affect your taxi allowance, including Taxi service provider changes, address changes etc you should first sign in to your student finance account. If you haven't already, apply for the Disabled Students' Allowance (DSA) through the portal, or fill out a DSA slim form if you applied by post. If your situation changes, you can also contact Student Finance directly.

Remember to update your details as soon as possible to avoid any issues with your funding. 

DSA/SLC often point people back to Study Tech or Capita after the assessment stage, query this, stick to your guns and ask them to check, we do not hold the Taxi/travel details on any of our systems, have no way to change what is on DSA systems and we do not pay out any taxi allowance/reimbursements or pay the Taxi companies direct.

Contact Student Finance England if your circumstances change:

To report a change of circumstances related to your DSA and travel allowance, you'll need to update your DSA application through your student finance account. If you don't have an online account, you'll need to complete a "change of circumstances" form, which can be found on the GOV.UK website. You can also discuss any changes with your university's disability advisor. 



Changes to Report:

You need to notify Student Finance England of any changes to your course, university, or college.
This includes repeating a year, changing your name or marital status, changes in your tuition fee loan amount, or a change in your living situation.
It's also a good idea to discuss any changes with your university's disability advisor. They can help you understand how the change might affect your DSA and provide guidance on how to proceed. 

Update your details:
If you change your name, marital status, University addresses, Taxi service or address, you'll need to update your details. GOV.UK recommends using form CO2 for this purpose. 

DSA travel expenses:
If your disability requires you to use a taxi to travel to university, you can apply for DSA travel expenses. This includes covering the cost of taxis when you cannot use public transport. 

Contact your university's disability advisor:
Your university's disability advisor can provide guidance on applying for DSA and other disability-related financial support. 

Contact Disability Rights UK for further information:
If you need more information about DSA and disability support, you can contact the Disability Rights UK Disabled Students Helpline at 0330 995 0414. 

Important points to remember:
You need to update your student finance details if your circumstances change. 
If you're overpaid due to a change in circumstances, you'll need to repay the overpayment. 
Contacting your university's disability advisor can provide valuable guidance. 

The contact number for Student Finance England is 0300 100 0607. 
Student Finance Wales Contact Centre at 0300 200 4050.