How disability status may support you

• You may qualify for additional student financial aid, including non-repayable grant and bursary funding
• You may be able to receive additional funding for equipment, services, and supports
• You can study at a reduced course load (40-59%) and still receive full-time funding

Who can apply for disability status

You may be eligible for disability status if you:

• Have a Permanent Disability (PD) defined as:
  “any impairment, including a physical, mental, intellectual, cognitive, learning, communication or sensory impairment – or a functional limitation – that restricts the ability of a person to perform the daily activities necessary to pursue studies at a post-secondary school level or to participate in the labour force and that is expected to remain with the person for the person’s expected life.”

OR

• Have a Persistent or Prolonged Disability (PPD) defined as:
  “any impairment, including a physical, mental, intellectual, cognitive, learning, communication or sensory impairment – or a functional limitation – that restricts the ability of a person to perform the daily activities necessary to pursue studies at a post-secondary school level or to participate in the labour force and has lasted, or is expected to last, for a period of at least 12 months but is not expected to remain with the person for the person’s expected life.”

You need a medical assessment by a qualified medical assessor to verify your disability. The medical assessment must explain the functional limitation(s) or impairment(s) restricting the ability to perform the daily activities necessary to participate in studies at a post-secondary education level.

Once you submit all the required information, StudentAid BC will confirm and establish your disability status in your Student Account.

When to apply for disability status

• You can apply for disability status at any time. You don’t need to wait until you have completed your student loan application to apply for disability status. If you apply early, you can receive disability funding sooner when applying for your loan.
• It usually takes about 6 weeks to get your disability status verified.
• If you have a permanent disability status already verified by StudentAid BC, you don’t need to re-verify again.
• If you have a verified persistent or prolonged disability, you will need to re-verify your disability status when you enter loan repayment or experience a break in study that extends greater than 5 years from the original disability assessment.

How you apply for disability status is changing as StudentAid BC transitions to a new application system. Right now, there are two ways to apply. Use the option that matches your application date.

Option 1 (for applicants applying for student aid after June 23, 2026):

If you submitted your StudentAid BC loan application AFTER June 23, 2026, and are applying for disability status after this date, follow these instructions:

1. 1Log in to your Student Account. If you haven’t created a Student Account yet, go to How to apply for student aid and follow the steps.
2. 2Complete the online Disability Status Application in your Student Account:
   Download the Disability Verification Form and take it to a qualified medical assessor for completion. Upload the completed form to your Student Account using the File Uploader.

Note: Some disabilities (Specific Learning Disorders) do not require completion of the Disability Verification Form and have different verification requirements. Please review the instructions on the Disability Verification Form for additional information.

StudentAid BC will review your documentation and post the decision to your Student Account.

If you need services and equipment to support your studies, go to Apply for services and equipment for students with disabilities.

Option 2 (for applicants who applied for student aid before June 19, 2023):

If you submitted your StudentAid BC loan application BEFORE June 19, 2026, and are now applying for disability status, follow these instructions:

1. 1Log in to your Student Dashboard.
2. 2Download the Appendix 8 – Disability Programs Application form and take it to a qualified medical assessor for completion.
3. 3Upload the completed Appendix 8 to your Student Dashboard.

StudentAid BC will review your information and post the decision to your Student Dashboard.

If you need services and equipment to support your studies, go to Apply for services and equipment for students with disabilities.

How you apply for services and equipment is changing as StudentAid BC transitions to a new application system.

Once StudentAid BC verifies and establishes your disability status, you can apply for the Canada Student Grant for Services and Equipment – Students with Disabilities. This grant helps pay for extra education-related costs, such as services and equipment you need to support your studies.

How to request equipment to support your studies

1. 1 Make sure your disability status is established.
2. 2 Visit the accessibility services office at your school. The accessibility services officer will:
   • help you identify the equipment that may support your studies
   • complete and submit the Equipment Request form and send it to Assistive Technology BC
3. 3 Assistive Technology BC will contact you to set up a meeting to review equipment needs
4. 4 Your equipment will be ordered

How to request services to support your studies

1. 1 Make sure your disability is established.
2. 2 Visit the accessibility services office at your school. The accessibility services officer will:
   • help you identify which services may support your studies
   • complete the Services Request form
   • submit the Services Request form to StudentAid BC, who will review your services needs
3. 3 You will receive a notification when your request is complete

How to request a reimbursement for a Disability Assessment

You may be eligible for reimbursement of up to 100% of the cost of a medical assessment done to verify a disability (maximum of $3,500). This funding is included in the maximum $20,000 available through the CSG-DSE.

1. 1 Upload a receipt or invoice (marked paid) to your Student Account (or your Student Dashboard if you submitted your StudentAid BC loan application before June 19, 2026).
2. 2 StudentAid BC will review your request and issue a reimbursement, if applicable.

After StudentAid BC verifies and establishes your disability status, you may be eligible for provincial and federal programs. Students with verified disability status are automatically assessed for the following programs when they apply for student aid:

• B.C. Access Grant for Students with Disabilities
• B.C. Access Grant for Deaf Students
• B.C. Supplemental Bursary for Students with Disabilities
• B.C. Assistance Program for Students with Disabilities
• Canada Student Grant for Students with Disabilities