Money for 16yr olds in school & college

Scoflo

Similar scheme in Scotland but for income less than 30k a year if child continues at school.
Under 18s get their busfare to college in advance regardless of income, over 18s (unless still in 6th year) are looked at on parents income for both fares & bursary.

Both are reliant on attendance during the month, a lot of kids around here only attended enough to get their bursary. Mine were furious as they didnt qualify and "at last" understood fraud and the pure selfishness of it as many of their friends families underdeclared their incomes to obtain this.

Savvy_Sue

chinagirl wrote:

Travel varies according to which county you live in. I have found that out as my son has applied to two colleges, in different counties and there are different proceedures for each one. (confusing!)

Oh, I can believe that, I just can't work out why the cost would change depending on whether the student was getting EMA or not? If it's less if you're getting EMA that's surely a double whammy for those of us whose kids don't get it! And I can't see how they could justify charging more to EMA students! Because after all, you might be getting EMA but be able to walk to college! The money doesn't HAVE to be spent on anything in particular, it is to encourage the student to stay on and attend college, surely?

Sorry, posted this before reading the rest of page 2! I think we're all in agreement that the basic cost shouldn't change but there may be discounts via the college.

Lucky 16-17 year olds in Scotland! My eldest is the year above when the scheme started, and I fear by next year our income will be too high for the next one, so I'll be shelling out for bus fares for the foreseeable ...

DaisyG_2

My son has to purchase a yearly bus pass in advance through college otherwise he is not allowed on the direct bus from our town. Last summer the lady I spoken regarding the pass said it was £150 unless he was entitled to EMA. So I just assumed it would be reduced if he got EMA.

Savvy_Sue

DaisyG wrote:

My son has to purchase a yearly bus pass in advance through college otherwise he is not allowed on the direct bus from our town. Last summer the lady I spoken regarding the pass said it was £150 unless he was entitled to EMA. So I just assumed it would be reduced if he got EMA.

Right, that makes more sense now. I can only think you need to phone the lady you spoke to about the pass! Still seems unreasonable to me!

DaisyG_2

Savvy_Sue wrote:

Right, that makes more sense now. I can only think you need to phone the lady you spoke to about the pass! Still seems unreasonable to me!

Thanks for your replies. I will be going to college with my son when he registers for the next school year, hopefully after his AS results are published and will check it out then. I just wondered if anyone else had experience of the discounted pass so I could budget for all the other school stuff necessary! :eek:

Capyboppy

What happens if your child is boarding in a different area? Do they claim through the school, or do they claim in their home town?

Fran

Capyboppy wrote:

What happens if your child is boarding in a different area? Do they claim through the school, or do they claim in their home town?

There is something about this on one of the EMA websites. Links to the different countries are in post one on page one of this thread.

Capyboppy

Maybe I should have been more specific. I didn't mean countries, more like counties

My daughter is at boarding school 250 miles away, but within England. Although she has a couple of years to go I like to be well prepared on being "in the know." Of course the government may have abolished EMA by then. As she officially lives with us in the north, would it be claimed from home, or would the claim be done via the school/school's local borough?

Fran

My reference to countries was England, Scotland etc. and there is plenty of info on the different websites. I would guess the claim would be from where you are based as it's about your income not hers (but it is a guess).

buglawton

nemo183 mentioned that EMA is available to anyone with special needs. Is that regardless of parental income?