Scamming EMA!

mug51

in sixth form they expect you to be adults, but if thats the case, adults will be adults if they act in a certain manner and if they don't need to count on their parents much, so cannot really see why it comes down to parents income and that. i say give one give all regardless.

John38_2

JPizzle wrote: »

Although I think EMA is good for people who need it, I think it can be quite unfair.

I will be getting it when I go back to 6th form in September (the days of maths will be gone). I know of someone who said that because his parents are self-employed, they can "fiddle" the system to allow him to get the money (I don't know how/if they can do it)

So it is obviously unfair if this is actually possible, and what is also unfair is that there are very few people who will get £30 off their parents each week.
This makes me a bit uncertain whether or not it is actually a good system.

Of course I'm not going back to 6th just for the money, I had always planned on doing it, so I'm not one of these slackers who just go for the sake of it. I aim high.

But a final question on EMA. If EMA means you go over the £100 (or whatever it is)per week income limit for tax, will I need to pay tax on it?

EMA doesn't count as income for tax purposes.

Even if it did, and a part time job sent you £100 over the tax limit, you'd only pay income tax on how far you've gone over. Which would be £11 National Insurance and 20% Income Tax if its only £100 over.

I see loads of people going "ohhh, but that might send me over the £5,000 tax free earnings limit, so its not worth doing the extra hours...". Usually its because they think once they go a penny over, they pay tax on all £5,000, but you don't. You pay tax on anything AFTER the limit...which is nearer £6 or 7k now a days anyway I'm sure!

John38_2

savvy wrote: »

Hmm interesting concept, not sure my college would go for that though :rolleyes:

It can't be that unusual. You could always suggest it . My College was judged the best Further Education Centre in the County recently, so it must be something to aspire to !

Titch89

John38 wrote: »

which is nearer £6 or 7k now a days anyway I'm sure!

It goes up to around £6k in September.

Broke_Student

I know of someone who claimed that their parents employer agreed to write a reduced payslip so that they could recieve a maximum EMA. I believe individuals are to blame for EMA problems and not a flawed system itself.

bestpud

turkish wrote: »

I feel very angry about EMA, my family as a whole earn over £30,00. I think it is unfair that as a married couple both incomes are taken into account. If we were divorced we would be able to claim some money for our son as our single incomes would fall into the EMA payment bracket. Despite our reasonable earnings we do not have £30.00 a week to give to our son. He does a 'free paper' round which earns about £11.00 per week. The government do nothing to support married people, we have been married for 20 years! a life time to some people.

Yes, but surely if you lived apart, you'd have two mortgages, two food bills, 2 x utility bills etc etc? You may get more tax credits (one of you) but think how much more your outgoings would be! And that's before we get onto the effect of a divorce on your son - slitting his time between parents etc!

EMA has its faults and is as open to abuse as any other benefit, but it does help out many families. Try living on less than £20k joint income and them come back and say you are better off because your son gets EMA!

I think the current system is flawed when it comes to divorced parents but we are making an assumption that all absent parents contribute to their childs upbringing. Maybe it would be fairer if any maintenance payments were counted as income, given they are not for tax credits? But then, people would find a way around that too I guess - it would just be more difficult for them to do so?

I don't know the answer but I do feel people are too keen to write off the whole system because of the few who abuse it. Maybe it's just me though.

luv_or_h8_me

I have recently started working for EMA processing forms.
1- Your personal income as a student does not count
2- Your parents need to provide a P60, a Part C (filled out with section b5 to b7 to state if they recieve benefits and if they recieve family tax credits they need to provide a TCAN)
3- All claims are checked with the DWP and such agencies alike

I from what I can gather see it as impossible, I personally am sending forms back for stupid things ( I apoligise if you recieve one!!)

P.S. I claimed EMA at college and unforunutly i didnt get it either, i tried to claim the access to learning fund and got refused again. I know how you feel but I can assure you the forms get accessed like 6 times minimum in several places. Hope this helps.

iNFLUENCE_2

Neato wrote: »

I disagree with this point. My college is supposed to get £3000 (I think) per year to spend on my education. This just doesnt happen. We have to pay for school (writing) books. We share textbook even to the extreme of one between 3/4 at times. Were charged for things like spare pens...so what are they actually buying me?? A chair and a table?? I know that doesnt add up to £3000 a year.

Im sorry but thats such a short sighted view I cant believe it. It works the same way with schools, each school is allocated money based on a per pupil basis (plus some other equations, but lets keep it simple).

You college has to pay bills (heating and lighting), teaching staff, support staff, building up keep. Thats what your £3000 goes towards.

leem_3

if you could get away with it-you obviosly would be! - so dont moan..

wait until your at uni and its a lot more than 30 pounds people are getting, then you can moan!

Rosemary7391

If EMA is to help support the kid through sixth form/college, would it not be fairer to continue any child benefits the parents get and then put the money back into the school so the kids don't have to pay for textbooks and the like.. Rather than the current system that seems to give some people £30/week pocket money and others nothing. Paper and pens don't cost £30/week, they cost pence! Textbooks need to be bought at the start of the year, not every week.