Have Your Say on a possible replacement for EMA

chrisbray

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

Parents whose children are in FT education receive child benefit and child tax credits, which should allow them to support their teenagers with their educational costs.

You sound like one of the lucky parents that can afford the extras that teenagers cost, long may it remain that way for you.

smunchkinp

Bearing in mind its the current year 9 which will have to stay longer at school, the government would of only had to pay out ema for a maximum of 5 more years.
the annual cost of which reduces each year as more and more students leave college and therefore the ema scheme.

I have 2 kids at college, 1 who gets ema, and 1 who doesnt as there was an issue with the college changing my sons course level, he was then classed as enrolled after the date when they could apply for ema.

My DD who still receives ema spends most of hers on college equipment, a hot meal at the college canteen (she doesnt like cold food in winter) and proper clothing for her work placement, She's lucky in the sense her college provides transport so she doesn't have to find bus fare.

Im already having to fund my eldests travel and equipment (engineering equipment is not cheap) as although he's applied for numerous jobs, He's been unable to find one thats not going to clash with his college schedule. Im just thankful that he can ride a moped as with me being a full motorbike license holder, being on his insurance as a named rider brought the price down to double digits.

My eldest is 18 and is becoming disheartened with college as he's no longer receiving funding to buy the things he needs himself, but he keeps having to ask me.

At this moment in time, come july when his current course ends, he'd be better off signing on the dole and gaining a course place/work placement through them. especially as jobs will be even harder to find once the public sector redunancies kick in

Unsure as to how im going to be able to assist in both my kids FE come september, as well as the youngest's school needs. Guess we'll have to cross that bridge when we come to it.

Keep ema but pay it direct to college and the students have to show receipts to claim back bus fares/ college equipment

As for the person who said it was only brought in to keep kids off unemployment list, 16-17yr olds have never been able to sign on so they're not on the unemployed stats

niki-mama

Why not introduce a travel card scheme, with discounts for purchasing educational books also?? As I thought EMA was supposed to enable students to attend further education, that way the money would be spent on ensuring that kids can get to college and have the resources they need.

bluetimone97

Mechelle wrote: »

I think EMA should stay, but be directly linked to attendance. Currently students must attend 85% (or a minimum of 12 hours, depending on the courses studied) to receive EMA for that week. If this was raised to 100% attendance, I believe attainment would also improve - after all, the whole point of EMA is to encourage students to do well in education, right?
What they spend it on is up to them - we don't tell people on the dole they can's smoke or drink, do we?!

In my son's colleges (two sons, two colleges) they have to have 100% attendance, if they are sick for even one day or have a hospital appointment they lose EMA, their work has to be handed in on time as one of the qualifying factors too.

1stbaby

It should be scrapped. The people I know who got it spent it down the pub!

1jeannie

As my son was refused Ema for his 5th year at high school because they tell us the Ema was withdrawn last year in Scotland I know what I would like to suggest the powers that be do with it. And I don't think they would enjoy it very much...:mad:

SueP19

OK cat among the pidgeons here.......................I loathe EMA

Our daughter has had to endure 3 years at college without it, when all her friends have recieved it plus lets not forget the generous handouts at Christmas and end of year!!!!!!!

I know you are going to slam me for saying and that we must earn over the limit and yes we do BUT and its a big one..................
.........................we have debts, a mortgage, etc etc

WE PAY OUR OWN BILLS not live on weekly handouts from the government................tell me one thing.........

What message are we telling our kids with this means tested benefit, its ok to rely on the government, its ok to expect taxpayers to put their hands in their pockets??????

The three years that our daughter has endured taught her alot about budgeting on the meagre bit we were able to give her.

So for me, they can not do away with this unfair system fast enough

:mad::mad::mad::mad:

1jeannie

I used my EMA to stay on at School 5th and 6th year which allowed me to work hard and get better qualifications which in turn got me a university place last September and I am now studying Podiatry.

Without my EMA I don't think I could have afforded to stay on so long at school.

My younger brother applied last spring but was refused his EMA as in Scotland they have reduced the quilifying amount and I felt bad that I got this allowance and he will not.:(

Nikki

The_One_Who

SueP19 wrote: »

OK cat among the pidgeons here.......................I loathe EMA

Our daughter has had to endure 3 years at college without it, when all her friends have recieved it plus lets not forget the generous handouts at Christmas and end of year!!!!!!!

I know you are going to slam me for saying and that we must earn over the limit and yes we do BUT and its a big one..................
.........................we have debts, a mortgage, etc etc

WE PAY OUR OWN BILLS not live on weekly handouts from the government................tell me one thing.........

What message are we telling our kids with this means tested benefit, its ok to rely on the government, its ok to expect taxpayers to put their hands in their pockets??????

The three years that our daughter has endured taught her alot about budgeting on the meagre bit we were able to give her.

So for me, they can not do away with this unfair system fast enough

:mad::mad::mad::mad:

My family also have debts and a mortgage, and they pay their own bills and not get handouts from the government. I still received EMA. In fact, my family might have been better off on benefits, but never mind. I find it quite insulting that you imply those who get EMA come from a family of welfare scroungers.

squif33

When I attended college the EMA had only recently been introduced. I studied graphic design which has extremely high course costs for things such as art materials, printing etc. I also had to catch 2 buses to get the college. I worked part time at Woolworths on a saturday and monday evening, and even then the money was just enough to get me by. My parents both worked in fairly low paid jobs but were in a huge amount of debt, which meant I had to pretty much pay for everything myself- clothes, lunches etc, as well as giving rent to them.

Personally I wouldn't have been able to stay in education without EMA, but would agree with the other posters that a voucher or card scheme would work well.