EMA and Sickness

Nicky321

My son has just undergone emergency surgery for acute appendicitis and peritonitis, I have spoke to his tutor and been told that because he attended college this week his EMA payment will go through as normal but he wont then receive any until hes back at college. Does anyone have any information on EMA and Sickness?

TheEffect

Basically it's up to your school and not EMA. Your school choose whether to pay him or not. My school pays students that have a doctors letter, however my friends school does not pay whether they have a doctors letter/reason for absence.

If the school seas no, then it's a no I'm afraid.

Oldernotwiser

Many colleges don't pay EMA when students are absent for any reason. With parents' letters and medical certificates so easy to come by it can be the easiest and best way of managing things.

Nicky321

Would this also affect his bonuses?

I cant figure it out... they try to encourage teenagers to stay in education by offering EMA as an incentive, but if they are off sick they may not get anything..... If they work, they would more than likely receive sick pay.

TheEffect

It will more then likely stop his bonuses. The bonus is subject to 95% attendance (It is in my school anyway), therefore depending on how much sixth form/college he's going to miss, he may not receive the bonuses either.

Nicky321

TheEffect wrote: »

It will more then likely stop his bonuses. The bonus is subject to 95% attendance (It is in my school anyway), therefore depending on how much sixth form/college he's going to miss, he may not receive the bonuses either.

He could miss a fair bit! he has a 3 inch scar and is a performing arts student, drama and dance.

TheEffect

That's quite an active bunch of subjects. I'm doing double ICT and Media, so if I miss any work, It's posted home to me.

To be honest, go and speak to the head of sixth form or college and explain this to them. They'll understand and more then likely still grant him EMA. They usually say they don't grant EMA when off sick as students take advantage of this, however if you explain the situation, you should be fine.

I hope he gets better soon.

DCFC79

Nicky321 wrote: »

Would this also affect his bonuses?

I cant figure it out... they try to encourage teenagers to stay in education by offering EMA as an incentive, but if they are off sick they may not get anything..... If they work, they would more than likely receive sick pay.

but then truancy is a problem so if tehy want to get ema then the student is encouraged to go rather than skive off

SuziQ

In my daughters college if you phoned in sick you got your ema-but only for that week. If the sickness continued no ema-and bonuses were affected.

It's tough,but I suppose his spending will be reduced when at home-a lot of students have to use ema for transport etc which he won't need whilst absent.

Hope he recovers really quickly-youngsters tend to be really resilient and quick healers.

poet123

EMA is not paid for absence due to sickness,it is a benefit given to fund costs associated with College, travel.lunches etc. If the student is not in College then those costs are not incurred,hence no EMA. These are EMA rules not College dictats.

Anastasia

If my son is ill I ring the school first thing. I then write a letter for him to take when he goes back. He then gets a form for the teachers to sign for the subjects he has missed to prove he has caught up with the work and then he gets paid.

There is usually someone responsible for ema who processes the payment every week. They are the people who really know the rules. You should be able to get through to them via sixth form and have your questions answered. Good luck!