EMA to go?

Oldernotwiser

newleaf wrote: »

Speaking as a person who came from a very poor household, and was unable to stay on at school even for 6th form, I think EMA is a good thing. If it had existed in the 70's, when I was a school leaver, it would have made all the difference and my life would probably have progressed very differently.
I think it is a terrible shame if it goes.

Things are very different now from the 70s. Poor families receive a considerable amount of money (CB/CTC) if their children remain in non advanced education (up to the age of 20 in some cases). EMA was just the icing on the cake to put money directly into the pockets of the students themselves, who might not have chosen to stay in education without it.

littlepinkstars44

I got the EMA, a few years ago now, for 2 years when i was at school, then college. I got 60 every 2 weeks in my bank. And to be honest i think it ws handed out too freely, even back then. I lived with my mum and my step dad (at this point they weren't married, so his income wasn't concidered) Also, my dad's income wasn't ever asked for, if it did i doubt i'd have even recieve the EMA at all. I also worked part time, recieving about £250 a month, which wasn't even asked for either.

I never needed to buy any books, and my mum gave me my bus fare every day. I never got the bonuses though, as they were based on attendence and i am known for having a wee "lazy day" now and again, even now!
All in i really could have survived without it, but since i was being offered it i took it. I have no idea what it is like now, as it was 7 years ago, but i think it should be given to right people who do need it for travel and books etc.

Oldernotwiser

littlepinkstars44 wrote: »

I never needed to buy any books, and my mum gave me my bus fare every day. All in i really could have survived without it, but since i was being offered it i took it. I have no idea what it is like now, as it was 7 years ago, but i think it should be given to right people who do need it for travel and books etc.

Are you sure it was EMA? It was only introduced 6 years ago and it was assessed on household income in the same was as HE student funding is.

olly300

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

Are you sure it was EMA? It was only introduced 6 years ago and it was assessed on household income in the same was as HE student funding is.

It was probably one of the student grants that some education authorities gave to poorer students who stayed on to post-16 education.

People who received them keep confusing them with EMA as not a lot of people knew and know about them.

Those educational grants were available from at least the late 70s as one of my older brothers got one. He would have stayed on anyway but would have struggled.

EMA just seemed to be central government taking over from what some local authorities did anyway, and now it seems to be handed back again to them.

BTW in inner London until the early 90s there was a combined education authority instead of the local councils administrating education.

joanne_d_3

Wicked_witch wrote: »

Sorry, was referring to why some families are so dependent on ema after such a short time.if my son had a job, I wouldn't even expect him to get ema, let alone be bothered about losing it.

Teenagers can claim EMA even if they have a part time job!

So , you saying that you wouldnt expect your son to get EMA if he had a job is an incorrect statement.

My daughter is on a training course and so instead of receiving the £30 ema payment she receives a training allowance of £40 . She also works part time .

littlepinkstars44

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

Are you sure it was EMA? It was only introduced 6 years ago and it was assessed on household income in the same was as HE student funding is.

It was definatly EMA, as it was brand new at the time, and we were the first year group at our school to get it.

gravitytolls

Simon11 wrote: »

I hope it does go as I found it very unfair when I was in Sixth Form.

The thought that students actually spend this money on books is rather laughable! Extra bonus at xmas, wonder what that gets spent on?

I didn't get EMA as parents income was over the limit, but that doesn't mean they give me £30 a week. I instead had to work 4 hours as a paperound boy to earn this money, while they had an easy life. So not fair

The bonus is already scrapped. Our son receives it and has a part time job..... EMA covers fares, his wages cover his social needs and the expensive field trips associated with his course, we continue to supply clothing etc.

Not all those receiving it are twits who blow it on booze or fags.

gizmo111

My daughter receives it, her fares are £63 per month and she receives £20 per week, so around £17 per month left over although she does work part time as well. She takes packed lunches most days from home and has had to buy some books. If she didn't get it then I would have to pay the fares bit of her expenses. She is currently taking driving lessons but if and when she gets a car won't take it to college as the parking alone would cost her around £18 per day in town. Looks like my younger daughter will get nothing. so I'll be paying those fares! My agreement with them both was that Iwould support them whilst in education up to age 18 so they can use any earnt money to save up for uni/spend on driving etc.
Currently my eldest lives at home rent free and I pay her phone. The EMA has been a great help in keeping her in college.

Wicked_witch

Not quite sure what your point is, joanne_d. I didn't say that students with jobs can't claim ema, or that they shouldn't be able to- just that if he'd had a job at the time of starting college, it wouldn't have occurred to me to apply as I'd've assumed he was extempt. I'm sure he would have put me straight on that pretty quickly, mind you! Sorry if I was unclear and upset you. I am already becoming involved in the campaign to save ema and would advise any other parents who feel this is not the right cut for the government to make to do likewise. The website is www.saveema.co.uk and there are already some Mps supporting this group.

PS very much hope your daughter's training allowance is not affected.

Jordii

gravitytolls wrote: »

The bonus is already scrapped. Our son receives it and has a part time job..... EMA covers fares, his wages cover his social needs and the expensive field trips associated with his course, we continue to supply clothing etc.

Not all those receiving it are twits who blow it on booze or fags.

Agreed.
Just because I claim EMA, doesn't mean I am someone who spends it on booze or fags, or even clothes, magazines etc.
I'm saving mine for university, a lot of young people are doing this.
I also think it is wrong that we are getting it taken away from us, we weren't the ones who messed up the country.