Ema

rev_henry

At my school if your ill you will still get paid if you just bring a note in from your parents, I understand. Not sure about holidays, but I don't think you would, or should, for that matter, be paid.
I do know that different schools/colleges have different policies about illness though, so my info may not be relevant at all.

timnicebutdim_2

Most colleges will have roughly the same policy regarding absences although they have the flexibility to be strict or relaxed. Either way the policy regarding attendance and acceptable behaviour should be outlined in whats called a 'learning contract' - issued to each student when they enrol on to EMA (at the college) and they should also sign a contract part 1 and contract part 2. This learning contract should also mention the appeals procedure if you disagree with a payment decision.

Where any absence is marked as unauthorised the student should not get paid - but this depends on how it's marked on the register and also what the college deems as unauthorised.

Just to say also the reason why payments can be erratic is because the EMA coordinator who authorises payments on an online system needs the register marks to do this and obviously registers can sometimes be late and sometimes absences need to be investigated. Also it may be due to the online system, which is very basic!

dawnrise

I am relieved to see others are having the same nightmare as me!! After waiting 25 minutes to get through last week (for the umpteenth time) the operator then said I was holding up the line for other callers simply because I wouldn't accept her vague answers. I must admit I did then raise my voice (a little bit!!) more in frustration than anything so she threatened to cut me off!! I have asked who the organisation is answerable to for their incompetence and apparently they are answerable to nobody! Today I have emailed my MP. Has anyone got any ideas who the buck stops with for this complete mess?

rev_henry

dawnrise wrote: »

I am relieved to see others are having the same nightmare as me!! After waiting 25 minutes to get through last week (for the umpteenth time) the operator then said I was holding up the line for other callers simply because I wouldn't accept her vague answers. I must admit I did then raise my voice (a little bit!!) more in frustration than anything so she threatened to cut me off!! I have asked who the organisation is answerable to for their incompetence and apparently they are answerable to nobody! Today I have emailed my MP. Has anyone got any ideas who the buck stops with for this complete mess?

I am thinking a similar way to you. I believe Ed Balls can fine them, and already has fined them £2 million. Seeing as how they're not actually breaking any laws or not providing a service you have paid for, as such, etc etc, it seems they are not answerable to anyone really, except the Government. This looks like another ETS to me.

moneysavingmackem

My daughter and her friend both rec'd their NoE's today. They applied at different times and both had their forms returned a couple of times but at last it' sorted. Hope this means good news is on it's way for everyone else.

MissPop

rev_henry wrote: »

I am thinking a similar way to you. I believe Ed Balls can fine them, and already has fined them £2 million. Seeing as how they're not actually breaking any laws or not providing a service you have paid for, as such, etc etc, it seems they are not answerable to anyone really, except the Government. This looks like another ETS to me.

... So what'll happen to that? Compensation, perhaps, for every who's had to wait weeks and weeks for money?

Didn't think so.

aaranj

MissPop wrote: »

... So what'll happen to that? Compensation, perhaps, for every who's had to wait weeks and weeks for money?

Didn't think so.

that £2mil should be paid in bonuses to everyone who has applied for ema but will probably disappear into the bank bailout fund

rev_henry

MissPop wrote: »

... So what'll happen to that? Compensation, perhaps, for every who's had to wait weeks and weeks for money?

Didn't think so.

Haha, good idea. Although it at least means this private company (liberata, or whatever they're called) will be paid slightly less for not providing a service, which makes me feel a little better. Although they're still being paid something ridiculous, in excess of £70m i believe. Doesn't take a genius to work out that outsourcing/privatisation doesn't work. Apparantly the Labour Government cannot deduce this.

rev_henry

aaranj wrote: »

that £2mil should be paid in bonuses to everyone who has applied for ema but will probably disappear into the bank bailout fund

Not to everyone, just to people who have been waiting far too long... like, for example, erm, ME!

aaranj

rev_henry wrote: »

Not to everyone, just to people who have been waiting far too long... like, for example, erm, ME!

how would you define too long? that would be hard for the government to do without angering ALOT of teenagers across the country. compensation should be available to anybody who is entitled to ema rather than just those (and i'm NOT naming names because this is to everyone so please don't reply with "i applied in june") who waited until late august onwards to send off applications.