EMA 2010/11 Guide Discussion

cd36uk

Cheeselady wrote: »

That's not really true, as the second parent income (for the parent living away from the family but still contributing) is not counted in, so in effect someone with an very high income could still claim it. I know of one family who claim and the mother's income is just under £40,000 and the father's income (living away from home due to separation) is £60,000 and the child still gets EMA, which is ridiculous, so hopefully this new system will work out better and stop it being paid out to families who do not really need it to send their child on to further education.

Wow, in the example given it is pointless giving EMA there. Although some ex partners can be flakey about contributing, so in cases like that the EMA is very much needed.
My daughter lives with my elderly (widowed) mother (long story as to why) and the EMA is truly needed. And I just hope that for her second year in education something will be put in place which means some financial support is still there.

Madmonk

I believe that the new system of "EMA" will only be given to families who are entitled to free school meals, so anyone who's parents don't work will get it!

MM

Redcharlie43

I totally understand the frustration that money paid through the CSA is not counted towards the EMA. My partner pays nearly 10K a year to his ex, she lives with a new partner who appears to be paid very well and lives in a 700K house. She has just spent 10K on landscaping the garden and spent my partners bonus money on a new bike for herself. We cannot understand how this makes the kids entitled to EMA. This is what my partner pays maintainance for! She is claiming poverty but the whole household income is clearly above 25K as she is on at least 15K herself not taking into account her partners contribution to the household. This is a prime example of people milking the welfare state. EMA should go to those who really can afford higher education without it!

Redcharlie43

Sorry made a typo before. Mean't to add EMA should only go to those who really can't afford higher education without it!

Hollie_Rose_2

Cheeselady wrote: »

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:

I agree with you, it is very unfair. I myself was at college last year and I was receiving EMA which was fair because my mother is a signle mother and my father doesn't pay maintenance. Even still the EMA board themselves aren't very fair as they find any excuse not to give out EMA. It is ridiculous that a parent who doesn't live in the same household who is paying maintenance isn't counted when there are parents earning just over 30,000 a year with more children to support living on that money alone. The government tries to do something helpful when really the rules and details make it totally unfair on some families. I can't complain because it helped me out, and was fair on my mum. I still, however, understand how it is unfair on others.

xstitchcrazee

Madmonk wrote: »

I believe that the new system of "EMA" will only be given to families who are entitled to free school meals, so anyone who's parents don't work will get it!

MM

I really do hope this isn't the case. I work 30 hours a week and my husband is retired. We're in receipt of WFTC. My son is currently entitled to the £30 rate. Over a third of that goes on bus fare to get to college and if I didn't drive him 3 miles closer to college it would be over two thirds going on bus fare, yes honestly that much. I will find a way to enable him to carry on at college next academic year but it will be hard.

Oldernotwiser

xstitchcrazee wrote: »

I will find a way to enable him to carry on at college next academic year but it will be hard.

But you will still be able to claim Child Benefit and Child Tax Credit for him, which would stop if he were to leave education.

xstitchcrazee

Yes that is the case, but with him receiving his EMA it relieves the pressure off me trying to find extra money for when he wants to do things with his friends, he budgets and pays for that himself now.

Jordii

Good news for us living north of the border!
The Scottish Government are keeping EMA, it has been published today in their budget cuts.


It is critical to keep young people aged 16-19 engaged in learning. In other parts of the UK, the Education Maintenance Allowance scheme - the flagship programme for supporting this group of young people - is being removed whereas we will continue this scheme. This funding honours our commitment to support the least well off students in Scotland, and open up opportunities to poorer families.

Further reading at: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2010/11/17091127/10

cocolgooh

I don't understand at all how one of my friends gets it. His dad earns about £60,000 a year and his mum earns about £30,000. He lives with his grandparents though. They earn about £25,000 between them and his uncle lives there as well and he earns at least £20,000 as well. He gets £200 a week pocket money and has his phone bill paid for him by his dad, even though be spends about £200 a month on his phone. And he still somehow gets £30 EMA. I think that's just screwed up to be honest.

I get £30 as well but my mum doesn't work because she's seriously ill so I'm her carer and have to spend a lot of my time (and EMA) on getting her to doctors appointments and things. I'm not entitled to carer's allowance as well because I'm at college 15 hours a week. I don't get how my college is now saying that they might have to cut my EMA. It's just unfair. Our income is literally about £7,000 a year. Bleh.