Ema.

bootyfurl

Does anyone here receive EMA or planning to receive EMA?

Is it good?

I should be applying soon.

Smickan

Looking back to when I was 16:

We were one of the launch areas for it and I ended up with £15 a week which I admit went on anything other than school stuff - but then again we never had any of the bonuses or anything like that.

It was def an incentive to go, we were the first years to get it and the novelty was great and it was quite lax - I had load of time off yet never once missed a payment.

Now I understand it's much tougher and stricter?

La-Cara

ema was great for me, because I didn't spend much of it on school stuff, so I saved it in a high interest account and used it as a uni fund.

Savvy_Sue

If your parental income is low enough to mean you're entitled to it, and you're prepared to attend college regularly and do the work, why would you NOT apply for it, and why would it NOT be a good thing?

Haven't voted as none of my sons has been eligible for it, so I've had to pay for transport etc to get them to 6th form. Trying to explain to the youngest that I don't fund his social life now, he needs to get a little job for that, but he's not yet convinced!

OohSoHolly

When i was 16 i got £10 a week. It was very helpful as a little extra spending money. Although probably 6 times out of 10 i didnt meet the conditions so i didnt see it that often:rotfl:.

cpfcstar

It was good for me as my sole parent didn't work, (not on benefit but is semi-retired) I got the full £30 a week, I did put it towards travel and clothes etc, but it was v usefull as my dad never had the money to buy me new clothes or trips out when he was paying the mortgage. So I do get fed up of people saying the money is not justified, some people I know from school had to give half to parents to buy food etc, but then again I do think it's unfair the money is cancelled if you're late or not well. My college allowed EMA only if you had one written absense a year!