Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA) Article Discussion

sassylassy_2

My daughter has been refused EMA because our earnings for last year were too high. That doesn't alter the fact that this year my husband lost his job, has since got a much lower paid one and my own hours have been drastically cut. We received maximum Tax credits and money is very tight but we still cannot get EMA. Apparantley they don't use "in-year" assessments because of the risk of fraud e.g a parent dying.

So, technically, if I win the lottery next year we will still be able to get EMA because our earnings this year are so low!!

Anyone see the logic in this? It has hit us hard as we had borowed money from a relative to pay a deposit for my daughter to go on a trip as part of her course which we are now struggling to pay back, and her course materials are extortinate.

Not a happy lassy!

cccdutton

If your son or daughter didn't make it into sixth form college, they can still get EMA on a couple of vocational courses. EMA was expanded last April to include young people on the "Entry to Employment" programme and "Programme Led Apprenticeships". These are free courses funded by the government, aimed at getting young people into employment, training or education. The Programme Led course is designed to provide training prior to obtaining employment on a full apprenticeship. Contact Connexions for a list of learning providers who run these courses in your area.

Grumpy_old_git_3

EMA is dependant on household income therefore it becomes a means tax in a different form.
My household income is made up of long term share dividends, interest on savings and a small part time self employment. This situation is because I have saved hard for my retirement, made do with older cars, cheap holidays, and do all my own maintenance and repairs etc. etc.
One of my children is currently at university and one is at college. Both university fees and EMA are income assessed, whilst I have committed myself to funding the university fees the other child who is at college is deprived of their full EMA allowance/grant, which I am not prepared to make up.
In hindsight what I should have done in the past is to reorganise my finances so that my unearned income is minimised. This was started with ISA’s as I believe they would have served me well in this type of assessment, but unfortunately I suffered badly from the fixed expiry dates in the past, which put me in a loss situation thus giving me a current lack of confidence in this system. Whilst there is not a lot I can do at the moment to increase the EMA for my child I write this for others to be aware of how the system works so that they might plan for the future better than I have done in the past.
I would still welcome any positive suggestions of how to improve the EMA allowance for my and others children.

dinigrow

sassylassy wrote:

My daughter has been refused EMA because our earnings for last year were too high. That doesn't alter the fact that this year my husband lost his job, has since got a much lower paid one and my own hours have been drastically cut. We received maximum Tax credits and money is very tight but we still cannot get EMA. Apparantley they don't use "in-year" assessments because of the risk of fraud e.g a parent dying.

So, technically, if I win the lottery next year we will still be able to get EMA because our earnings this year are so low!!

Anyone see the logic in this? It has hit us hard as we had borowed money from a relative to pay a deposit for my daughter to go on a trip as part of her course which we are now struggling to pay back, and her course materials are extortinate.

Not a happy lassy!

Hiya SassyLassy.

It's definitely worth speaking to someone at your daughter's College (in the Student Services / Student Support department) about the Learner Support Fund. Although initially means-tested, the College is obliged to take each case individually, so if you can show them that your income has fallen drastically, they should at least be able to offer financial assistance for travel expenses as well as the cost of uniforms / equipment - It's useful if you can find the receipts for any expenses you have incurred so far. Although this won't provide as much money as EMA would, it should help to tide you over this year... and then next year (fingers crossed) your daughter will be entitled to a decent weekly payment.

It is difficult to accept being turned down for EMA, but that is exactly what the Learner Support Fund is meant for - make sure you get some!

Good luck!

WestieFan

My daughter got an EMA last year, usually paid 2 weeks in arrears.
We had all kinds of problems with the school.

Sometimes there was no teacher to take registration or teachers didn't complete the register properly so pupils were marked absent = no EMA for that week. My advice to anybody who has been awarded an EMA, if you are missing a payment and you/your son or daughter hasn't been absent or late, telephone the department who pays it out and ask them for details, then check with the school, who can arrange to have the records amended and the payment made. I had to write to the school 3 times last year because of it.

Incidentally, our school term started on 21 Aug this year and nobody has received a single payment yet, although it was promised by the October holiday. We are told it will be backdated, but we need the money now!

12helensp

I just want to ask about EMA bonuses....as its nearly Januray now. Is it easy to get EMA bonuses....I mean are everyone entitled to them as long as you fulfil what targets set by college. Do you even get bonuses in Januray. I heard bonuses of like 500 quid...wow that would help me a lot since Im so broke right now!!

emma0787

12helensp as far as i'm aware you do get a bonus in Jan so long as you return to college for the new term, i'm sure the bonus is around £100 though not £500.

culpepper

Yes its £100.My son calls it the 'coming back after the holidays bonus'.
I think he had one just before the summer hols but I dont question him about it as it is his own money.
Some of my son and daughters friends get nothing despite their parents not contributing a penny towards equipment and travel.
My 2 get £20 each and I pay their fares and for their books but if they want extra non essentials (fancy pens ,trendy school bags)they buy it themselves.
If it is an incentive to stay in school for those that get it, it is an incentive to leave for those who don't!

Gemmzie

Yes, it's £100

Each college is allowed to set their own guidelines within reason, but they are usually so many weeks of the term have been paid, 75% seems to be the average, and that attainment/effort grades that were predicted the previous term have been met.

They are usually paid with the first or second payment in January

button16

emma0787 wrote:

12helensp as far as i'm aware you do get a bonus in Jan so long as you return to college for the new term, i'm sure the bonus is around £100 though not £500.

You get £500 in total in bonuses over 2 years, 5 bonuses of £100 each