EMA - small rant

Tigger36

Absolutely - I wasn't having a go at you I was just concerned that your post got lost amongst all the rest and wanted to highlight the fact a little more. You will know only too well how hard it is to claim if you're under 18.

TheWaltons_3

Tigger36 wrote: »

Absolutely - I wasn't having a go at you I was just concerned that your post got lost amongst all the rest and wanted to highlight the fact a little more. You will know only too well how hard it is to claim if you're under 18.

Yes... very difficult, very embarrassing and not an easy procedure at all. Thankfully Social Services did most of the hard work.. but was left on my own a few days after 16.

I appreciate fully what you are saying, others probably will not. Sadly, some people think they are automatically entitled to State handouts the minute they turn 16.

My entitlement to benefits at that age would have been swapped for a normal home life to be honest.


My main reasons for posting are, I am upset that anyone could leave their 16 year old child in such a predicament.

Tigger36

Me too - I see it every day, for a variety of reasons and it certainly doesn't get any better or any easier. Slightly aside, I feel that people think that there are so many 'support networks' out there now that it doesn't matter - someone will pick them up and look after them. Sadly, this doesn't happen and it's actually the minority who get help, not the majority.

zoezoe_3

my mistake

TheWaltons_3

Tigger36 wrote: »

Me too - I see it every day, for a variety of reasons and it certainly doesn't get any better or any easier. Slightly aside, I feel that people think that there are so many 'support networks' out there now that it doesn't matter - someone will pick them up and look after them. Sadly, this doesn't happen and it's actually the minority who get help, not the majority.

I completely understand that. They are crying out for Foster carers and good ones are hard to come by. People seem to enjoy the money, yet not the responsibilty of a child crying out for understanding.

For anyone interested in Fostering, I do believe you can receive the Social Services fees even if you are on Income Support or benefits. They do not count as income.

There just aren't the resources to help kids like this.. and being an adult now and having my own children.. it brings it home to me even more. I suppose they're the forgotten kids. The ones Mothers dread their children associating with.

You're doing a good job. It must break your heart at times, especially with the bright ones... you can only do so much for them.

zoezoe_3

my mistake

Kilty_2

pandas66 wrote: »

As a pointer she would be liable to NI at 16 but tax is different as she is in education.

How does being in education affect tax? Wouldn't it be more of a case of not reaching the personal tax threshold (~£5300) ?

I'm in education whilst self employed and as far as I know I'm eligible for my 22% like everyone else.....

As for EMA - I think it's a joke personally. Saying that working directly affects grades etc isn't always correct, I know people who work flat out whilst at school and get very good grades and at the same time people who get EMA that don't achieve their full potential. Also know where a lot of the funds paid out by EMA end up going........

To the OP - how much does your daughter expect to be paid per hour to earn £350 per month? A lot of employers especially smaller companies will pay less than £4, vast majority less than £5. Take the advertised hourly rate with a pinch of salt, I've been told at an interview before that the rate of pay is different for people under 18

TheWaltons_3

zoezoe wrote: »

What predicament, giving her the option to move with me to plymouth or stay up here on her own ?? How can that upset anyone !! My daughter is not upset and nor and I , odd that a stranger would consider it a predicament.

Let's highlight this predicament:

You want to leave your Daughter in Surrey so you can go elsewhere in the Country with your smaller children to be with your parents

You want her to pay the rent on the property

You are annoyed she wont get EMA, thus scuppering your plans for her paying rent

You think it is perfectly acceptable to do all of this, and your only annoyance is that people think this is absurd and have mentioned it.

My honest opinion, is that you should be prosecuted for Neglect if you were to go ahead with this selfish plan, which only serves to benefit yourself.

This is not responsible parenting. Responsible parenting would be finding a happy medium - allowing your Daughter to visit Surrey to see her old friends and helping her to do this. Would there happen to be a Step-Dad in tow in this whole situation?

pandas66

Kilty wrote: »

How does being in education affect tax? Wouldn't it be more of a case of not reaching the personal tax threshold (~£5300) ?

I'm in education whilst self employed and as far as I know I'm eligible for my 22% like everyone else.....

As for EMA - I think it's a joke personally. Saying that working directly affects grades etc isn't always correct, I know people who work flat out whilst at school and get very good grades and at the same time people who get EMA that don't achieve their full potential. Also know where a lot of the funds paid out by EMA end up going........

To the OP - how much does your daughter expect to be paid per hour to earn £350 per month? A lot of employers especially smaller companies will pay less than £4, vast majority less than £5. Take the advertised hourly rate with a pinch of salt, I've been told at an interview before that the rate of pay is different for people under 18

As a student you don't pay tax! well tbh you should't be able to reach your limit should you?

Your point about needing to earn £350/per month was my point. At 16 the min hourly rate is £3.30, I realise employers can (and do) pay higher but I'm fairly sure Co-op won't be 1.

Kilty_2

pandas66 wrote: »

As a student you don't pay tax! well tbh you should't be able to reach your limit should you?

Well, in most normal part time jobs, no

Point is you are still eligible for tax if you do go over the limit though.

pandas66 wrote: »

Your point about needing to earn £350/per month was my point. At 16 the min hourly rate is £3.30, I realise employers can (and do) pay higher but I'm fairly sure Co-op won't be 1.

Yeah exactly, I know people who work for some large companies and get paid £3.93.