Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA) Article Discussion

nad1611

lamnicholas wrote: »

Yes. EMA is only for students aged 16-18 studying in sixth form schools, or on an E2E scheme or a course leading to an apprenticeship. The scheme is based on age and income.

Not strictly true. My daughter had Ema for her A levels and for one year of a two year diploma ie until she was nineteen years old she was doing a BTEC which is basically the same level as A levels. Very handy while she sorted out a job for her final year. Not everyone seems to know this and doesn't apply.

Mr._Condren

Quick question, My parent has happened to throw my letter of entitlement away. Is it possible to ring back up and request another one to be re-sent?

Forgetful

hi does anyone know if ema is paid for the half term holiday??/

LemonGrove

Forgetful wrote: »

hi does anyone know if ema is paid for the half term holiday??/

Assuming everything has run smoothly as it is meant to, it will be. The EMA should be backdated by a week, therefore the EMA is payed at the end of the half term holiday as payment for the previous week in education.

The problem is that because no learning is done during Half Term then there is no payment made at the end of the week back in education. After that it will be back to normal.

jammiedodga29

ewloe wrote: »

Hi my son will be starting FE this september and is applying for an EMA which needs a bank account, I have searched all over this site and I can't find any information on which will be the best bank acout for a 16yo to open, plenty of advice for HE students and adults but what about teenages?

Hi. Yes, I have EMA and I use the bank HSBC. Iv had it since I was 14 and they haven't let me down. They gave me a Solo Debit Card so I can use that in almost any shops, online etc. So yeah HSBC. Either that or Barclays Young Persons Account.
Hope this helps =]

Gcstar

This year is my son's second year at college. Although he is doing extremely well, with good grades etc. He has had a few days off, being unwell. When he has not made it to college, he misses out on the EMA for the WHOLE week!!! I certainly don't agree with this, and I'm sure, I'm not the only one. As his college is 17 miles away, we have to rely on public transport. I am a full time carer looking after my disabled wife, so my son needs the EMA to be able to get to college the following week. If he doesn't get it, we can't afford to get him there.
Does anybody know if there is any help we can get with this problem.

Ziggy_Stardust

Gcstar wrote: »

This year is my son's second year at college. Although he is doing extremely well, with good grades etc. He has had a few days off, being unwell. When he has not made it to college, he misses out on the EMA for the WHOLE week!!! I certainly don't agree with this, and I'm sure, I'm not the only one. As his college is 17 miles away, we have to rely on public transport. I am a full time carer looking after my disabled wife, so my son needs the EMA to be able to get to college the following week. If he doesn't get it, we can't afford to get him there.
Does anybody know if there is any help we can get with this problem.

Unfortunately it seems to be that the educational establishment gets to decide who gets paid or not and then passes the details onto the ema department.
I have two daughters in years 12 & 13 in different schools. My eldest has health problems and is off school a lot however they always authorise payment for her. The youngest was off with a temp of over 100 and possible swine flu and I had to 'strongly discuss' it with her head of year to get them to authorise her payment, I argued the fact that I was following the head's letter and keeping her off and threatened to take it to appeal. Was your son given a contract from his college telling him of the conditions needed to qualify for EMA and how to appeal?

timnicebutdim_2

Ziggy_Stardust wrote: »

Unfortunately it seems to be that the educational establishment gets to decide who gets paid or not and then passes the details onto the ema department.

You're right each school/college does have it's own discretion when it comes to EMA policy especially with regards to sickness, although it should be explained from the outset through the Contract Part 2 and also a guidance booklet issued to the Learner. They should have signed this at the beginning of term and it outlines the expectations on both sides.

Where schools do not have discretion is when it comes to the minimum no. of 'guided learning hours' which is 12 per week. This is what the student must do in order to receive payment as stipulated by the LSC. The only exception is illness due to disability or very exceptional circumstances.