Money for 16yr olds in school & college

rammy007

The Ema is another load of rubbish and as badly handled as the tax credit system it took ages to get my daughters going last september and we have had loads of problems with it being paid as it is very erratic and depends on when the people at college decide to put it through, we have had to make loads of phone calls week after week to get it sorted out it is a good idea in principle but again its like the taxcredit system badly run,it has put my dd off going back to college in september.

Gemmzie

Unfortunately, it's sporadic because the schools and college have such terrible ways of implementing it.

It isn't the actual EMA headquaters fault, they pay if they are told a student has met the requirements two weeks in arrears (to give time for processing). The schools/colleges don't pass on attendence information quickly or clearly enough

Lovaabargain

Savvy_Sue wrote:

Is there a mechanism (as there is with other benefits etc) for your dad's CURRENT income to be used rather than last year's income? Worth a phone call, if the information is not available on line.

No there isn't! My son's situation is similar to bizzy_ d as dh was self-employed last year on a good income but his business is now in liquidation & we are trying to scrape by on my low wages & his JSA of £35 a week but I have been told by the people dealing with the EMA that the only extenuating circumstances that they allow is if a parent has died! but we will be able to claim next year!

lleck

I don't think you realise how much time and effort goes into processing EMA payments. In our office we have five people working full time processing the EMAs.

What you have to appreciate is that all EMA students have to attend all lessons all week to be paid. This is not like going to school and having a registration morning and afternoon. It means scanning registers which have been marked by the tutor at the beginning of the lesson. If the student has been present for every lesson for the whole week it is fairly simple. If they have missed a lesson or been late and not marked as present, the tutor has to be contacted to try to confirm if the student was present. They can attend up to 25 different classes per week. Not including away days and time off for study leave !

Times this by over 1000 students on hundreds of courses and you will see what the admin staff are up against.

Yes it is a good idea to try to encourage students from households where before hand they may not have had the opportunity to be able to continue studying because of lack of finances but it is something for something not something for nothing as lots of people seem to think.

V_Chic_Chick

I am at a private (fee-paying) school, which my grandparents are paying for (only reason I can afford to go). Will I still be able to get EMA?

wisewoman

bizzy_d wrote:

i applied for EMA but i was just above the amount, and because they use last years income i find it unfair as my dad is now unemployed and dosen't seam very confident hell get a job easily because of his age. I need money for travel and for art equiptment (as the collage dosen't own much art equiptment) and then theres equiptment for my other subjects as well.
--yeah yeah i could get a job but cos of my age it will be low pay and i do have other comitments like music lessons-(cost money).
Any one know any other funding thats available.


sorry for going on so much:o

If there is a drop in income for this year, let them know, and you might be entitled to something after all. Also, talk to your student advisor about what financial help might be available for travel, equipment, maintenance etc.

nigeats

Do the students get the EMA during the college term breaks? ie, is it paid 52 weeks a year - That's if they dont "bunk" off of course for which I know the answer.

Gemmzie

nigeats wrote:

Do the students get the EMA during the college term breaks? ie, is it paid 52 weeks a year - That's if they dont "bunk" off of course for which I know the answer.

No, it is only paid for term-time and usually in two week arrears.

Gemmzie

V_Chic_Chick wrote:

I am at a private (fee-paying) school, which my grandparents are paying for (only reason I can afford to go). Will I still be able to get EMA?

As long as you are in further education of at least 12 hours then yes, as it will be assessed on the income of the adult's that you live with.

V_Chic_Chick

Thanks Gemmzie, £30 a week here I come! (well, in two years time lol). Mum was convinced it was aimed at low income families and they assumed anyone at a private school had enough money.