EMA to go?

percymoneysaver

I know this will be an unpopular opinion, but frankly I think it's about time they scrapped it, or at least targetted it better.

I have no objections to the justly deserving getting it, and know first hand that they use it for educational purposes. But I have every objection to children of divorced parents getting it because they don't live with the higher earning parent (who often (but I accept not always) contributes to the child's education and well being. I have every objection to the children of self employed people who claim they earn tiny incomes getting it, because you don't appear to need to claim dividends or cash in hand on your EMA application.

In my college a quarter of students are on EMA this year. Several of them have come in and said "my parents are divorced, that means I can get the money, doesn't it?" Most of them drive, many of them drive their own cars. Many of them have new iPhones. Many of them go on expensive college trips. All on family incomes of less than £20-30k? I don't think so.

By all means let the money be targetted to help the ones that really need it. There are loads that do, and they need all the support they can get, especially with tuition fees about to skyrocket. But the rest of them should be ashamed of themselves if they start complaining about it being scrapped.

JMHO.

EMA_insider

i work for the outsourcing company that processes EMA, and i was watching closely today. EMA was always going to end in 2013, as the school leaving age rises. funding will be handed over to local authorities to administrate rather than a single company. the reason you will get no joy from the call centre is no announcement has been made yet, at least not to us from the YPLA, although i imagine the call centre will have a message to pass onto enquirers who call (and the call centre will be very busy tomorrow, im glad i don't have to take calls!)

there is no way payments for the current 10/11 academic year will end, and i cannot see any reason to stop it until 2013. the company i work for (Capita) has the contract until 2013 so if there is to be any mad, bad news to come it wont be for a while yet.

before you call EMA, bear this in mind; the staff will be told to say there is no immediate change or plans to stop this academic year, and you will get nothing more from them (unless you get some idiot making it up as they go along or voicing thier own opinion)

Dullville

dmg24 wrote: »

What has your own research uncovered?

What a tool you really are..

Oldernotwiser

skylight wrote: »

He declared that EMA will be replaced with more targeted support. That's all he said today and could mean 1001 things.

He mentioned that in the context of young people having to remain in education or training until the age of 18 in a couple of years' time..

Taiko

Funding going from a centralised place to local authorities. Interesting...

bestpud

Taiko wrote: »

Funding going from a centralised place to local authorities. Interesting...

You have to laugh, don't you! :rotfl:

CurrentWorker

EMA is worth it, It has helped me out.

The bonuses was not worth it and I am glad it has been scrapped (I havent recieved any as I just started this year).

I really cant be arsed getting into the reasons why it should be kept, but I have to say that I wouldnt be able to attend to this college if I didnt have any form of payments.

Jordii

I get EMA, and up here in Scotland all our payments are guaranteed until December 2010, don't know whats happening after that.
Don't know if its the same for people south of the border.

Taiko

With the plans to raise the compulsory leaving age to 18, scrapping EMA was always going to happen.

minerva_windsong

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

In 2013(?) when young people have to remain in education and training until 18 there will be no need for the inducement of EMA. AFAIK it won't be going immediately.

This was my assumption - ie that once it becomes compulsory to stay in education or training until the age of 18 there won't be any need for EMA, which IIRC was designed as an incentive to encourage young people for less well off backgrounds to stay in education. No need to incentivise something that's compulsory.