Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA) Article Discussion

Savvy_Sue

bestpud wrote: »

That wasn't the case in 2005 - everyone paid the same!

Personally, I can't see that being the case. I mean, how on earth could they justify charging more for the same application process?

I don't remember it being like that when DS1 applied. DS2 is of course completely vague about how much we had to pay, and I'm not certain this did happen, just I've got this vague memory about it.

But, the point is that they are NOT justifying charging MORE, they are giving a discount to encourage those families where the parents didn't go to Uni.

It's all in the spin ...

silvercar

I thought the idea was that the universities would look more kindly/ accept lower grades from applicants whose parents hadn't gone to university rather than give more money.

The idea is to encourage people to apply whose family may not have the background to encourage higher education.

To give more money to first-generation students would not make sense, as their parents may be well off and able to support them, even though they didn't go to university themselves.

sharky007

silvercar wrote: »

The idea is to encourage people to apply whose family may not have the background to encourage higher education.

Exactly, it is a great incentive for teenagers to continue learning and putting in further effort. The weekly income from EMA + my part time job also helps put money in my Uni fund each month :beer:

Lovaabargain

Savvy_Sue wrote: »

I've clicked around the EMA site without finding anything, I admit. My friend said it was a little known part of the system. I think we've thrown DS3's application forms away or I'd check on them.

My guess is that the parental graduate status IS considered relevant because of the government's obsession with getting everyone to University (OK, I exaggerate slightly ...) Clearly parents who didn't go to University themselves may need more convincing of the value of post 16 education. :rolleyes:

It is certainly true that you are asked about your parents' graduate status when you apply to UCAS, and that there is additional financial help available through many universities for such students. I've got a vague memory that we had to pay more for DS2's UCAS application because we're graduates than we would have done if we hadn't been.

Next time I see my friend I can check how she found this out: it's no use to her child because she IS a graduate!

I don't think this is the case as ds1 is starting at Uni this year & neither myself or dh went to Uni but ds didn't get any extra financial assistance because of this.

emagirl

sharky007 wrote: »

Exactly, it is a great incentive for teenagers to continue learning and putting in further effort. The weekly income from EMA + my part time job also helps put money in my Uni fund each month :beer:

i found it really helpfull , i used mine to pay for my college make-up kit and my sister used hers for travel to from college , what course(s) are you studying ?

DailyClicker

emagirl wrote: »

i found it really helpfull , i used mine to pay for my college make-up kit and my sister used hers for travel to from college , what course(s) are you studying ?

It really helped my brother last year!!!

He would have found it soooo hard to pay for travel, and food without it!

So glad I've decided to stay on though, and hopefully uni next!

skylight

Hi - I have a further question to ask on EMA - and child benefit/CTC etc.

Now. SD has enrolled again today at college - Great!! :T
But changed her course..:mad:

She is 17 now, and 18 in Jan09.

So this affects stuff. She is now doing a level 2 NVQ in childcare. Which gives her 2 days at college and at least 1 day in a nursery placement (per week). The college have told her that she is not entitled to EMA. I have checked the EMA site and Martins article - they state she must do 12 hours "guided learning". Is the nursery placement not regarded then as guided learning? Its not as if she will be standing around all day watching the clock and she will have considerable coursework to complete and she has been told the placement could be upto 3 days a week.

Also, child benefit. Looking at the gov website, it says:
By 'full-time' we mean an average of more than 12 hours a week in term time is spent on:

• tuition
• practical work
• supervised study
• taking exams

So the college and the placement will mean that she is still allowed child benefit? And child tax credits too?


She does have a part-time job, and I know that will not affect EMA (if entitled) - but if she is not entitled to the other stuff she knows she will have to put in more hours at work. However, if she does have a placement with 3-days at placement, 2 at college there is no room for extra working hours.

Nothing is ever simple in life! (Not for our family anyway!).


As always, your help is most appreciated. :beer:

Oldernotwiser

skylight wrote: »

Hi - I have a further question to ask on EMA - and child benefit/CTC etc.

Now. SD has enrolled again today at college - Great!! :T
But changed her course..:mad:

She is 17 now, and 18 in Jan09.

So this affects stuff. She is now doing a level 2 NVQ in childcare. Which gives her 2 days at college and at least 1 day in a nursery placement (per week). The college have told her that she is not entitled to EMA. I have checked the EMA site and Martins article - they state she must do 12 hours "guided learning". Is the nursery placement not regarded then as guided learning? Its not as if she will be standing around all day watching the clock and she will have considerable coursework to complete and she has been told the placement could be upto 3 days a week.

Also, child benefit. Looking at the gov website, it says:
By 'full-time' we mean an average of more than 12 hours a week in term time is spent on:

• tuition
• practical work
• supervised study
• taking exams

So the college and the placement will mean that she is still allowed child benefit? And child tax credits too?


She does have a part-time job, and I know that will not affect EMA (if entitled) - but if she is not entitled to the other stuff she knows she will have to put in more hours at work. However, if she does have a placement with 3-days at placement, 2 at college there is no room for extra working hours.

Nothing is ever simple in life! (Not for our family anyway!).


As always, your help is most appreciated. :beer:

If the course she's on is designated by the college as being part time then there's not much you can do about getting EMA etc. Would it not be possible for her to look at doing the same course full time as most colleges offer both.

skylight

This particular course is in the college prospectus as "full-time"!!

Last years course was also listed as full-time being 3 days a week. Its not the best college in the world, nor the best course, but being 17, she obviously knows best.

Its the child benefit and CTC that I am more concerned about really. The EMA is a bonus for her, but I need to know about re-budgeting etc.

Oldernotwiser

skylight wrote: »

This particular course is in the college prospectus as "full-time"!!

Last years course was also listed as full-time being 3 days a week. Its not the best college in the world, nor the best course, but being 17, she obviously knows best.

Its the child benefit and CTC that I am more concerned about really. The EMA is a bonus for her, but I need to know about re-budgeting etc.

If the college designates the course to be full time then she should be eligible for EMA and you should be able to keep your benefits for her. Who has told her she's not eligible for EMA and have they said why? If it's one of the academic staff, they don't always know much about this side of things and you should check with Student Services. As far as benefits go, you tell them that she's going to college on a full time course and that should be it.