2008/09 EMA article discussion

The_One_Who

silvercar wrote: »

Where it is seen as unfair is that there are many students who would stay on at school regardless of EMA. Either because that was always the intention or because there are a limited number of jobs arounds. So these people are getting paid for a decision they would have made regardless.

So we should only give it to those who would be leaving school if they didn't get it?

Oldernotwiser

silvercar wrote: »

Where it is seen as unfair is that there are many students who would stay on at school regardless of EMA. Either because that was always the intention or because there are a limited number of jobs arounds. So these people are getting paid for a decision they would have made regardless.

And just how would you sort these ones out? Ask them?

silvercar

The_One_Who wrote: »

So we should only give it to those who would be leaving school if they didn't get it?

It was only invented to encourage people who would otherwise leave to stay on. Obviously there is no way of dishing it out on this basis so it has become means tested. The link between low incomes and staying on at school is established, but it is rough and ready; the availablilty of work being another primary reason for people to leave.

The_One_Who

silvercar wrote: »

It was only invented to encourage people who would otherwise leave to stay on. Obviously there is no way of dishing it out on this basis so it has become means tested. The link between low incomes and staying on at school is established, but it is rough and ready; the availablilty of work being another primary reason for people to leave.

I don't really understand how you would implicate such a scheme. I shouldn't get it because I was going to stay on in school? Even though my parents are well below the income bracket for the £30?

silvercar

I wasn't saying it should be distributed any other way, just that its purpose was to enable people who couldn't afford to stay on to do so.

The_One_Who

But before you said that an issue with it was that people were being paid to stay on in school when they already would have done.

sumosami

The criteria for the EMA isnt that you are a child in a 'dysfunctional' family, its about income. The 2 don't always go hand in hand. My daughter qualifies due to the low income of the household not because she comes from a 'dysfunctional' family. Our income is low because her father died 6 years ago making me a single parent to 2 children. Whilst I was on benefits for a few years until my youngest was old enough to go to school, I have worked ever since. Despite this my income is still very low. I would have struggled to pay for all the things my daughter needs to stay on in further education as I don't want her to miss her chance just because of our bad luck. However the EMA takes the pressure off a little & for that my daughter & I will be grateful (when it eventually comes through). Not all single parent families are scroungers out for what they can get, some of us are in this situation through sheer bad luck. But then thats life.

aaranj

Hi everyone

sorry but im about to go on a bit of a rant

i've been reading some of the posts on this thread and other threads to do with ema, and i always come across the same thing:

were not eligeble for ema and i can't afford to give my kids £30 a week

Not everyone gets £30 a week. Some get £20 and some get £10. Now for those who are just above the cut-off of £30,810 you may not be able to afford £30 a week but even if you were just under the cut-off point, your child would only get the minimum £10 a week. Nobody is asking you to give your child £30 a week or even to try to. If your family is really struggling then you can apply for a learner support fund from your college and they will give you a non-repayable grant.

anyway, rant over

bestpud

aaranj wrote: »

Hi everyone

sorry but im about to go on a bit of a rant

i've been reading some of the posts on this thread and other threads to do with ema, and i always come across the same thing: Not everyone gets £30 a week. Some get £20 and some get £10. Now for those who are just above the cut-off of £30,810 you may not be able to afford £30 a week but even if you were just under the cut-off point, your child would only get the minimum £10 a week. Nobody is asking you to give your child £30 a week or even to try to. If your family is really struggling then you can apply for a learner support fund from your college and they will give you a non-repayable grant.

anyway, rant over

That is the standard reply from people disgruntled because they or their child is not entitled aaranj.

The problem is it totally misses the point by ignoring the non-cash benefits of being brought up in a higher income family (there will of course be anomolies on both sides of the fence though!) and the reasons why EMA was introduced.

I fear it is a misunderstanding that is here to stay though, unfortunately.

psychopathbabble

The EMA is just for further education? So my OU course (leading towards a degree) doesn't count I guess... Is there anywhere I can look for similar help while starting OU course?

Thanks