Scamming EMA!

luv_or_h8_me

I hate to say.... but what proof do you have of this?


1- If you are working you have to provide evidence of you income for the previous tax year disregarding any changes which may of or not happened this year...

2- any part c's which are filled in are checked!!

3- trust me i do the job its boring....


:T <this is how i feel at the end of the day....

if you have a problem report it.... dont complain.

liquidlives

My school strikes again! I'm apparently not getting last week's money because I missed afternoon registration one day when a) I was carrying out duties as a Technical Support Prefect and b) my tutor was informed of this and should have marked me in anyway. I'll now have to wait until the middle of August for the payment, since the registers were updated correctly after the lady in the office had left and she won't be in again until then. Rather irksome.

Rowan9

EMA causes many tensions within college. I'm a college tutor and used to have group discussions on EMA until it all got a bit too heated. I feel sorry for the students who don't get it - not all have parents who can/ are willing to pay £30 a week to each 'child' so that they have equivalent money. Hearing some of the stories told by students who work (and just speaking openly, not moaning) and then listening to others say they get their £30 just to turn up can be a bit tiresome.
I think the main thing, as has been said on here, is for students to look at their achievements as their incentive.
w

bestpud

wmf wrote: »

EMA causes many tensions within college. I'm a college tutor and used to have group discussions on EMA until it all got a bit too heated. I feel sorry for the students who don't get it - not all have parents who can/ are willing to pay £30 a week to each 'child' so that they have equivalent money. Hearing some of the stories told by students who work (and just speaking openly, not moaning) and then listening to others say they get their £30 just to turn up can be a bit tiresome.
I think the main thing, as has been said on here, is for students to look at their achievements as their incentive.
w

Yes, but I guess hearing how students from low income families have been helped to attend and stay at college helps??

Because that is what it's there for, and if a family on over £30k a year can survive (but just can't afford to give their child money), how do you think a family on less than £20k a year manange with just the bills etc?

As I've said before, some of the less well off students will boast about the money rather than admit what the financial difficulties their family may have. We're talking teens here after all!

Titch89

bestpud wrote: »

how do you think a family on less than £20k a year manange with just the bills etc?

Having been in this situation before, I can tell you it really is awful.

katieowl_2

We've been on less than £20K a year for a long time, and I can tell you we simply would have been up the creek without EMA! I know that it's a hotly debated benefit, and I can see that some parents get it in the neck if they don't qualify, as their kids think they should get £30 a week 'pocket money' but....

When the chips are down, EMA has over the years paid for my kids essential text books, suitable sixth form clothes, course related school trips, an essential private music tutor (long boring story which hopefully will result in the required UNI grade this summer), and assisted with the provision of a dailuy packed lunch, as well as funding their phones and social life :rolleyes: which simply COULD NOT have come out of out the family finances.... I have been eternally grateful for it! It also meant that the kids didn't NEED a job as well so they were able to concentrate on their A levels.

When my son goes starts 6th form in September, it will be helping pay his train fare which will be £50 every half term!

All three of my kids either got EMA or will qualify for it...One has just finished Uni, one is going in September, and the third intends to in two years...I think this was the POINT of EMA? To get kids from low income families into higher education. Low income doesn't always mean LOW INTELLIGENCE or LOW EXPECTATIONS. Times are hard!

Regards

Kate

bestpud

Yes, we too earn way less than £20k too and our dd's EMA will be very useful.

She has found a weekend job as well, and will therefore be able to buy all her own equipment for college and she will also pay for any trips.

We really would find it a massive strain otherwise.

Rose2White_2

Our dd is only just entitled to EMA and has been getting it for the last two years, this has meant we have had to watch how much overtime OH does as too much will put us over the limit.

In all honesty I would rather have had the bus passes paid for as her money was used on lunch each day and £2 a day doesn't go far. Besides the bus pass is a large amount (£120) three times a year (Aug, Dec & Mar) as apposed to the small amount for lunch each day.

So this summer dd has a summer job to earn some extra money to help with next year as her income doesn't count.

Some do need EMA and yes others abuse it, but this is the case for all benefits of any type. Maybe free travel and other types of benefits like free lunches could be used instead, surely a bus pass and lunch voucher would cost less than £30 a week and so maybe making it available to more people, even if only one of the above and not the other.

Having said that the line has to be drawn somewhere and there will always be those just over the limit,and those who will abuse the system.

DanielJ_2

(wow i read this whole thread :T)

I have got a successful application from EMA, totally for £20pw because my future step-dad has moved in and mum is getting remarried in September. I am used to living on nothing for weeks, normally 3 at a time. When I say "nothing" i mean no money to spend on what I want
£20 for me would be amazing, trust me. I am thinking most will be going on travel costs. I also want to do well in my new college because lets face, why the hell should i do there? I will have to use so much effort getting there everyday (bus>>>train>>bus>>>walk<<bus<<<train<<<bus) that if I did not want to do 'well' then I could just sit at home or find a job.
I think the notion of time wasters in for the EMA is just a matter of conveiniance. They decide that they are going to be bored sitting at home so they goto the nearest college/6th form and apply for anything. In fact, I know this is true because already, people from my former year are saying "EMA>>>£30!!"

The only thing the hard workers can do is well...live with it however harsh that sounds. They will come quids in when they are earning 30K+ a year with a degree in a subject they were passionate about.

liquidlives

Rose2White wrote: »

Some do need EMA and yes others abuse it, but this is the case for all benefits of any type. Maybe free travel and other types of benefits like free lunches could be used instead, surely a bus pass and lunch voucher would cost less than £30 a week and so maybe making it available to more people, even if only one of the above and not the other.

Sadly you can't spend free lunch allowance on textbooks. I've got to buy another three for Further Maths this year, what fun. I'll have to get books for English Lit as well. It's really irritating because the school does Hamlet every year so they could just get some copies for us to use, but I don't know of any school that provides textbooks for 6th formers.