Students with disabilities and chronic illnesses very often have to clarify additional financial issues in addition to the usual questions about financing their studies. This is particularly the case if additional costs are regularly incurred due to health impairments, if studies have to be interrupted for a longer period of time, if studies are significantly extended or if studies start late. Financial insecurity can be exacerbated by the fact that students with health impairments are often unable to work and therefore cannot build up financial reserves.

There is no single source of student finance. A number of different funding organisations are responsible for financing normal living expenses and disability-related support needs. It is sometimes difficult to clarify who is responsible for what. It can happen that benefits applied for are not provided or are not provided to cover needs and approval deadlines are not met. Most benefits for disability-related additional needs are also only granted depending on income and assets. The handbook "Studying and Disability" from the German Student Union is helpful.

IMPORTANT: Prospective students should find out for themselves at an early stage which funding organisation can cover which costs and under which conditions. The social counselling and student finance advice centres of the student unions can help with questions.