Money for 16yr olds in school & college

bluedog

My son stayed onto 6th form and qualified for the full £30 per week because of the benefits I am on. We also got his bus pass for the whole year because of the benefits and not his EMA. Surely it shouldn't be any different if they are at school or college?

Also, did anyone else have a change made in their CTC in september because I got an amendment at the start of the term and I'm now worse of by £10 every 4 weeks yet nothing else had changed!

steady__eddie

Last week, my mates daughter was taken ill in class and had to be sent home at 3 o'clock in the afternoon. After a good nights sleep and branded medicine from the chemist, she attended the following day and for the rest of the week.
The college administrator has informed her that she has lost her entitlement to E.M.A. for the whole week. Her mother rang the peeps at E.M.A. and explained the situation. They said that if her absence was not unauthorised, then her entitlement would not be affected. This information forwarded to the college but they have refused to change their stance.
It seems a little harsh to me that the whole weeks allowance should be lost for the sake of 2 hours absence especially when the reason for absence was witnessed as being legitimate (hope anyone's not eating whilst reading this but bodily fluids eminating from the mouth area were involved).
It may be a "jobsworth" in overdrive mode but can anyone suggest a course of action which may persuade them to change the decision ?
I was thinking of a letter to the Chief Admin Officer of the college and if that was unsuccessful, correspondence with the Board of Governors. If anyone knows anything better, I would be glad to receive your thoughts as the thirty quid is a significant input to the family income.

Savvy_Sue

I presume you've sent in a note saying "DD was absent from college for 2 hours on X day because she was vomiting"? Only my understanding is that an absence is unauthorised until there is a parental note. That's certainly the case with under 16s at my sons' school.

If you've done that, then I think the course you describe is the way to go!

steady__eddie

A note was written by the lecturer teaching the class at the time of the sickness and given to the student who handed it in to the administrator.

SKIPPY

My understanding of the grant is that your child receives up to a maximum of £30.00 per week depending on your yearly income. Maximum yearly income is £30,000. They also receive a bonus if they attend regularly and work hard. The bus pass is a separate payment either termly or yearly and is reduced if you are in receipt of benefits working tax credit etc (but not child tax credit). For instance we have to pay £115.00 per term for our sons bus pass (it would only be £35.00 if on benefits). As our yearly income is just over the threshold he doesn't qualify for the grant, therefore it's extra money we have to find for his bus pass. Does it ever get any easier as your children grow up!?!

molly22

steady__eddie wrote:

Last week, my mates daughter was taken ill in class and had to be sent home at 3 o'clock in the afternoon. After a good nights sleep and branded medicine from the chemist, she attended the following day and for the rest of the week.
The college administrator has informed her that she has lost her entitlement to E.M.A. for the whole week. Her mother rang the peeps at E.M.A. and explained the situation. They said that if her absence was not unauthorised, then her entitlement would not be affected. This information forwarded to the college but they have refused to change their stance.
It seems a little harsh to me that the whole weeks allowance should be lost for the sake of 2 hours absence especially when the reason for absence was witnessed as being legitimate (hope anyone's not eating whilst reading this but bodily fluids eminating from the mouth area were involved).
It may be a "jobsworth" in overdrive mode but can anyone suggest a course of action which may persuade them to change the decision ?
I was thinking of a letter to the Chief Admin Officer of the college and if that was unsuccessful, correspondence with the Board of Governors. If anyone knows anything better, I would be glad to receive your thoughts as the thirty quid is a significant input to the family income.

i had many conversations with college people, EMA officials and even the local newpaper people, but it seems the college can choose the stance they take on giving out the EMA, and in my daughters college, she needs to attend 100% to claim that weeks EMA. Very harsh i think, because as you point out, the student only need to be absent for the shortest of times and thats it for the week.
so when my daughter decided she didnt feel very well on monday morning then by lunchtime she felt ok, there was no point her going into college for the rest of that week, as she wouldnt be paid EMA and she wouldnt have bus fare or lunch money anyway. (she did attend actually, luckily for me she is an 'A' grade student)
good luck in your quest. let us know how you get on.

molly

steady__eddie

I have not seen my mate for a few weeks but I passed on the info. which I had gained from here to him and the suggested course of action.
Several years ago, I used to administer several training initiatives including Y.T.S. at a college. Besides the payment of allowances to trainees, it was also within my remit to invoice for payment from the paymaster who at that time was the Manpower Services Commision (That's given my age away)
Obviously tuition fees were not paid to the college if the students did not attend through illness or other reasons. I can only assume that the method of funding must be different under E.M.A. as the college has lost a whole student week income for a couple of hours of student absence.

Savvy_Sue

steady__eddie wrote:

I can only assume that the method of funding must be different under E.M.A. as the college has lost a whole student week income for a couple of hours of student absence.

So does the college get 'extra' for EMA students? I think I'd assumed they just got their annual tuition fee or capitation or whatever, rather than a weekly payment! Must make it less worthwhile to take students whose parental income is over the limit for EMA!

matty_c608

I know some colleges will not give payment even for illness!

Exceptions are driving test, and funerals, and that's it!

And the Council will give Transport Help if your earnings are under £20K. Look on your councils website. They must also live a certain distance from school, usually 3 miles, and the family must be receiving income support or something on the lines of that.

misty

matty_c608 wrote:

I know some colleges will not give payment even for illness!

Exceptions are driving test, and funerals, and that's it!

.

I don't think the colleges make the rules - it's the EMA people. At our college the EMA document states "It is accepted that there might be situations which can make a student's absence from class unavoidable. Usually these can be foreseen and permission given in advance."
10 The acceptable reasons for an 'authorised absence' would normally be limited to:
11 Medical appointments with hospitals, consultants or for specialist treatment
12 A religious holiday
13 Interviews for Higher Education or employment
14 A work experience placement which is an integral part of a course and for which the student does not receive a wage
15 A College representatives meeting e.g. Student Council meeting
16 Attendance at the funeral of a close relative
17 Attendance at court or an appointment with a legal adviser or a Probation Officer
18 A driving test

Absences due to sickness. As an EMA/ALG is intended to cover the costs due to attendance in education, the EMA/ALG will NOT be made where the student is off sick.. However, if there is one absence of less than one week in any one term and genuine evidence of sickness is presented, then the payment will be made." A copy of this is given to the students when they apply.