Ema

aaranj

Alibat wrote: »

She also got paid in her half term week, but not the first week she went back.

thats because payments are made 1 week in arrears, she should be paid this week for last week

MissPop

aaranj wrote: »

thats because payments are made 1 week in arrears, she should be paid this week for last week

Yup, payments are made during the half-term holiday for the previous week (ie the last week of the half-term) and then the first week back, no money is paid as that would be for the previous week (ie the holiday).

rev_henry

I sent my application off early August, then had a letter back 10th September saying I had not provided proof of household income. What had actually happened was I HAD sent proof but they hadn't bothered to read through my paperwork properly and didn't notice the accountant's letter. I then sent it back the next day and have heard nothing since. I call them at least once a week but its like talking to a brick wall. My application will have gone to the bottom of the pile, can't tell you anything about it, etc etc EVEN THOUGH its their fault the first one was rejected. Some of the callcentre staff are extremely ill mannered ('Why are you calling us?' one operator demanded of me very rudely). The whole things a joke if you ask me, they keep telling me I should hear back in x days/weeks and never do. I'll be writing to my MP soon if this goes on much longer; its all I can think of doing.

bestpud

timnicebutdim wrote: »

Hi, just to confirm this, as an EMA superuser I've also had problems paying students for the week commencing 20/10/08. Liberata have said it's an IT issue and are working on it but it's taking time and I haven't had much luck yet. The online system to authorise payments is also horrendous! Although it is an interim system and you can't change study patterns once a student is registered as it goes to the default term dates. I expect something will be done soon as most colleges will be in the same boat so watch this space... (hopefully!)

Ah that explains why dd got her money late last week then!

rev_henry

Just got off the phone to them. I asked where my application was, they said they have no record of it on the system. I ask if they have received it or not, they don't know, I ask if they can find out, no they can't. They say they could have received it, they could not have received it, it may be lost in the post, it may not be... the case continues.... GRRRR

jembie

My daughter is in a right state today.
She has just had 2 weeks off college as we took the week before half term as a family holiday and then there was half term last week so she will miss 2 weeks money and today she is is really under the weather but she has had to drag herself to college otherwise that will be a 3rd weeks money she will miss.

I don't think it is fair that if they have just one day off they miss a whole weeks money. Why can't they just take £6 off??

Alibat

aaranj wrote: »

thats because payments are made 1 week in arrears, she should be paid this week for last week

MissPop wrote: »

Yup, payments are made during the half-term holiday for the previous week (ie the last week of the half-term) and then the first week back, no money is paid as that would be for the previous week (ie the holiday).

Thank you both.

Maybe by the time she finishes college we'll have it figured out, but I wouldn't count on it. It isn't even as if this is the first time I've had anything to do with EMA as my elder daughter had it too. I don't remember it being anything like as confusing as it has been this time though.

bestpud

jembie wrote: »

My daughter is in a right state today.
She has just had 2 weeks off college as we took the week before half term as a family holiday and then there was half term last week so she will miss 2 weeks money and today she is is really under the weather but she has had to drag herself to college otherwise that will be a 3rd weeks money she will miss.

I don't think it is fair that if they have just one day off they miss a whole weeks money. Why can't they just take £6 off??

I see your point, but tbh, I think it is better they have to attend all week. Although I guess the downside is, if they have one day off they might think they may as well take the week...

It is a bit of a logistical nightmare anyway, as far as I can see, so allowing for odd days would make it even worse perhaps?

jembie

bestpud wrote: »

It is a bit of a logistical nightmare anyway, as far as I can see, so allowing for odd days would make it even worse perhaps?

You are probably right. Although workplace wages departments don't have a problem. I guess they just didn't set it up right in the first place

MissPop

jembie wrote: »

My daughter is in a right state today.
She has just had 2 weeks off college as we took the week before half term as a family holiday and then there was half term last week so she will miss 2 weeks money and today she is is really under the weather but she has had to drag herself to college otherwise that will be a 3rd weeks money she will miss.

I don't think it is fair that if they have just one day off they miss a whole weeks money. Why can't they just take £6 off??

I'm fairly certain that a valid absence will not affect the payment. At my college, we have valid and invalid absences - so illness/travel problems etc come under valid, and stuff like skipping lessons/oversleeping is invalid. If you have an invalid absence, the money will not be paid, but if you have a valid it's OK.

To be honest with you, I've had a couple of invalid absences during a week and still got the payment However, I have received letters saying "You will not receive payment for this week" etc.

If your daughter is really unwell, get a doctor's note which should certainly mean she still gets payment.


... And maybe you could book your holiday so it's not in termtime next time..?