Scamming EMA!

savvy

thriftybelle wrote: »

Students who want to pass and do well in their courses also have to do that and they Dont have a monetary incentive. I attended all classes, all exams and handed course work by the deadline set, with no extensions. Where's my reward?

As a tutor, I know exactly what you mean! There is a case that has arisen recently that I find completely unfair, and is at the mo resulting in the student that can't claim EMA (as household income is about £1500 over the threshold) in not being able to afford to continue on his college course :mad: Yet his friend who's mother is playing the system gets to claim left right and centre for everything and anything! :rolleyes:

thriftybelle_2

Thank you, I'm glad to know this sort of thing happens elsewhere. the EMA system is working like the benefit system, those who don't need it know how to get it and play the system and those who need it dont know how to, or can't claim the money. I wish there was a way they could create a system based on... hard-work, or enthusiasm for the couse, becuase so many students are just crusing along not trying hard and just claiming the money.

bestpud

thriftybelle wrote: »

I can completely sympathise with this, so many people at my college don't have jobs to earn money, instead they play the system to get the free money, while the rest of us honest hard-working people have to work to earn the same amount as that others are technically stealing. It is so irritating.

Is it so many? Are you exaggerating just a little here?

And if you really believe they are stealing tax payers money (ie committing fraud), is there any reason why you, being a law abiding citizen has not reported them?

However, if they are using the system to their advantage, then they are not stealing! If you feel there are loopholes which need closing then start trying to change it!

Please distinguish between the two though, or you will come across as ill-informed!

I'm afraid I want to yawn when I see yet another on here bemoaning the system which allows half the college to live in mansions, drive flash cars and yet be given £30 a week!!

Come on, it isn't that bad! There will no doubt be a few bad apples but let's not inflate the story for effect!

EMA helps lots of students but it has it's bad points too - like most things in life!

Oldernotwiser

Rosemary7391 wrote: »

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.

EMA isn't intended specifically to support people through college, it's intended to be an incentive for those from lower income families to carry on in education. These families are often underrepresented in further education and EMA is supposed to help this problem.

If more people understood the rationale behind EMA there might be less bad feeling from some people about the scheme.

morverngirl

I totally agree with all the scamming. My daughter's (now at Uni) school would not allow school trips as pupils may not be able to afford to go however the pupils getting EMA used money to make sure they had all the latest fashion and accessories ie I Pods. Few worked ,but my daughter had to work to get equivilant amount. Some who got EMA had parents who had split and fathers in large houses and well paid jobs !!!! . those that truely need money to further study and spend it on study then I have no problem with but it all appears to be what you know about "the System " are the ones that gain. Unfortunately the same happens with student loans/fees.

timnicebutdim_2

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

EMA isn't intended specifically to support people through college, it's intended to be an incentive for those from lower income families to carry on in education.

Quite, and lets get it into perspective, students will only receive the maximum £30 per week if household income is below £20,817 (07/08). It's there to help lower income families. Sure there will be people that 'play' the system and it will be seen as unfair to some people, but that's life.

robpw2

you should do the right thing and report

Oldernotwiser

morverngirl wrote: »

I totally agree with all the scamming. My daughter's (now at Uni) school would not allow school trips as pupils may not be able to afford to go however the pupils getting EMA used money to make sure they had all the latest fashion and accessories ie I Pods. Few worked ,but my daughter had to work to get equivilant amount. Some who got EMA had parents who had split and fathers in large houses and well paid jobs !!!! . those that truely need money to further study and spend it on study then I have no problem with but it all appears to be what you know about "the System " are the ones that gain. Unfortunately the same happens with student loans/fees.

Presumably spending the EMA money on ipods etc. was a greater incentive to go to college and get it than spending it on books would be! As I said before, if you bother to understand the purpose of EMA then you wouldn't criticise it for inappropriate reasons.

Rosemary7391

If the £30 a week makes the difference between someone being able to go to college and having to get a job, fine. If it is the reason they want to go to college.... Why? It'll only take away resources from those who want to be there regardless, and at worst could actively disrupt the learning. So I really don't understand it as an incentive....

bestpud

Rosemary7391 wrote: »

If the £30 a week makes the difference between someone being able to go to college and having to get a job, fine. If it is the reason they want to go to college.... Why? It'll only take away resources from those who want to be there regardless, and at worst could actively disrupt the learning. So I really don't understand it as an incentive....

Well, there are plenty of time wasters in college anyway! You are surely not suggesting that EMA claiminats are the ony ones disrupting classes - are you?

Many non-EMA recipients are there because they don't want to work quite yet, or simply because they didn't know what else to do!

I guess it's ok for them though, as they aren't claiming EMA? :rolleyes: