 |
 |
||
 |
 |
 |
|
 |
|
||
| education maintenance allowance | ||
|
From September 2004, young people who decide to stay on in school or go to college, may be able to get the Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA). |
||
| what is the EMA? | ||
|
The Educational Maintenance Allowance is a weekly payment of £10, £20 or £30 a week, depending on your household income. These payments are intended to help cover the day-to-day costs of studying, such as travel costs, books, stationary and equipment for your course, but it’s your money – so you decide how to spend it. |
||
| The EMA is aimed at getting students from lower-income families to stay on in education after they have completed their GCSE’s, and is available for both academic and vocational courses. | ||
|
how much is the EMA? |
||
| This depends on the household income and may vary from year to year. Individuals may get up to £30 a week paid directly into their bank account. In 2007/08, if the household income is: | ||
|
Up to £20,817 a year: you will get £30 a week |
||
|
Some people may also qualify for a bonus of £100 (payable in January and July) if you remain on your course and make good progress with your learning. (It is likely that all these figures will vary every year.) |
||
| who is entitled to an EMA? | ||
|
You will qualify for an EMA if:
|
||
| how is the EMA claimed? | ||
| In order to claim your EMA, you will need to complete an application form, which you should have already received from your school or college. If you haven’t received one yet, ask your teacher, or alternatively you can contact the EMA helpline by ringing 08081 016 219. | ||
| On this form, your parent or carer will be asked to give evidence of your household income. If they have one, their Tax Credit Award Notice (TCAN) is suitable evidence. If not, they can send evidence of income, such as a P60 for the last tax year. You will also need to provide evidence that you have set up a bank or building society account for the money to be paid into (such as a bank statement or a letter from your bank). Have a look at the Banking section on this site if you don’t know how to open a bank account. There are literally hundreds of Bank and Building Society accounts available on the high street. In order to decide on which one is best for you, you will need to do some shopping around and see what is on offer. | ||
| what next? | ||
| Once you have completed the application form, opened a bank a bank account (if you didn’t have one before) and gathered the evidence you need, you will need to send it to the Assessment and Payment Body (APB), who will assess your application. | ||
| Shortly after returning your form, you should receive a ‘Notice of Entitlement’ from the APB, giving details of your payments. | ||
| After you enrol on your course, you must take your EMA papers into school or college. You will need to discuss and sign up to the terms of your EMA contract – about your attendance – with your teacher or tutor. | ||
| Next, you will have to turn up to class and work hard to start receiving your weekly payments. | ||
| Some time in October, you will then need to agree and sign up to the second part of your contract – about your bonuses – with your teacher or tutor… | ||
| …and then, turn up to your lessons, work hard and you never know – by January you could be receiving one of those £100 bonuses! Roll on July… | ||
| For more information on EMAs have a look at www.dfes.gov.uk/financialhelp/ema/. | ||
| DoughUK is grateful to Norwich and District CAB for permission to adapt this article. | ||
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
