EMA 2010/11 Guide Discussion

Former_MSE_Natasha

This thread is specifically to discuss the content of the

Education Maintenance Allowance

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Cheeselady

My son is just about to start 6th form and we've been looking into EMA. We don't qualify as our income for the last 12 months is over £30,000, even though my husband lost his job and is now on a much lower wage, and we are in the process of having to set up a DMP because of this.

Alright, fair enough, those are the rules and we can't apply this year, but what really astounded me, when reading the application form, is the fact that for divorced parents, the maintanence payments being paid by the parent not living in the household do not have to be taken into account! I am just totally amazed and angry that this rule has even been passed!! :mad: So in a typical situation, if the mother earns under £30,000 per year, and the father (not living in the household) earns £30,000 per year or more and is paying maintenance to the mother for the child, then the child will get EMA. Who on earth worked out these rules? Honestly, I am just totally shocked that the government is giving money to those who don't even need it. :mad:

Mel2500

I understand that the EMA has to be paid into a bank account in the student's name. Could anyone point me in the direction of some advice on this i.e. which banks offer accounts to 16 year olds and whether some are better than others? The best student accounts page all seem to be directed towards students starting university with a minimum age of 18. Many thanks.

contribute_good_news

A big bravo for those law makers who accepted such law and implement this kind of very neccesary help in order to enable studies to less fortunate puppils! We do hope that more and bigger amounts of aid will be provided in regular scale,so that puppils will really be able to focus on their studies and tutorials only.

Alysie

My son will be 16 just as he starts his last year of GCSE's as his birthday is right at the beginning of September - can he get EMA for his last year at at school or does he have to be in 'further' education?

Alison_B

We are in the same situation as the OP. We cannot get EMA due to earlings in 2009/2010 although DH has been made redundant at the beginning of the year and our income is very low.

Does anyone know if we can claim EMA from April next year or will it be classed as the same course year, so cannot claim until the start of September 1011?

Oldernotwiser

Alysie wrote: »

My son will be 16 just as he starts his last year of GCSE's as his birthday is right at the beginning of September - can he get EMA for his last year at at school or does he have to be in 'further' education?

For the academic year 2010/11, learners' birthdays need to be between 01/09/1991 and 31/08 1994.

http://readingroom.ypla.gov.uk/ypla/final_ema_guidance_2010-11_v2_aug2010.pdf

jennie65

my son has been getting EMA for 2years, but in order to help out he has agreed to stay on in education for a further 2 years, he is 18 now will be 19 in may 2011 so does that mean he will not get EMA for his 2nd year then.

He has agreed to stay on because of getting EMA, and as a lone parent with only one wage coming in he gets the full £30. In order for his sister to do her 2 years of A levels I need my finanacial sutuation not to change for the next 2 years or we may lose our home. Any loss in tax credits, child benefits resulting from a child leaving education would result in a large drop in income and an inability to pay the rather high rent I have to cover each month.

Being a single working parent, with 2 model teens means i do not have enough points for help with housing in my area and so have to rent privately, which I can afford to pay while I have the extra money coming from tax credits.

jennie65

Barclays offer a really good young persons account, that gives them a debit card facility as well. Both mine have this and its really great.

Rachel_123

jennie65 wrote: »

my son has been getting EMA for 2years, but in order to help out he has agreed to stay on in education for a further 2 years, he is 18 now will be 19 in may 2011 so does that mean he will not get EMA for his 2nd year then.

He has agreed to stay on because of getting EMA, and as a lone parent with only one wage coming in he gets the full £30. In order for his sister to do her 2 years of A levels I need my finanacial sutuation not to change for the next 2 years or we may lose our home. Any loss in tax credits, child benefits resulting from a child leaving education would result in a large drop in income and an inability to pay the rather high rent I have to cover each month.

Being a single working parent, with 2 model teens means i do not have enough points for help with housing in my area and so have to rent privately, which I can afford to pay while I have the extra money coming from tax credits.

he might be able to get ALG http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/EducationAndLearning/AdultLearning/FinancialHelpForAdultLearners/Adultlearninggrant/index.htm

Oldernotwiser

You need to remove the link in your signature and repost this as a new thread as it doesn't have anything to do with EMA.