How you can get paid for entering further education thanks to EMA.
What is EMA?
EMA stands for Education Maintenance Allowance, which is available for 16-19 year old students living in England, Scotland and Wales to help out with costs of staying in education. This is open to students who are about to leave or already left compulsory education and enrolling on a course that lasts for at least 10 weeks and study for 12 hours or more a week. Courses that entitle students to EMA include A levels, GCSE’s, NVQ’s or a LSC (Learning and Skills Council) – funded Entry to employment (e2e) or a course that leads to an apprenticeship.
Now for the burning question - ‘How much do you get?’
The answer to that is 10, 20 or 30 pounds depending on your household income and that is broken down as follows: if your parents earn up to £20,817 per year you get £30 per week, 20,818 – 25,521 per year you get £20 per week, £25,522 - £30,810 per year you get £10 per week and more than that you are not entitled to EMA.
You are also not entitled to receive EMA if you receive a Dance or Drama Award, Adult Learning Grant, Jobseekers allowance or NHS Bursary. Your household income assessment does not include how much you may earn in any part time employment you may have whilst in full time education.
In addition to that there are opportunities to earn up to £500 in bonuses over a two year period if your programmes lasts that long and you successfully meet goals or targets set by your education establishment.
If you are 16-19 with children you may qualify for additional help in the form of Learn Support Funds or Care to Learn.
Now, how to apply
You have to follow six simple steps. First and foremost you have to open a bank account so when your EMA has started it can be credited straight into your account.
Then you need to get an application form, you can go online, just go to ema.direct.gov.uk/ema.html and order an application pack. You can alternatively call 08081016219 and get one sent to you. You can also pick up a form from school or your local Connexions provider.
Once you have got the form you need to complete it with your parents or carer as there are parts of the form that they need to fill in. Once the form is completed you need to send it to your LEA (Local Education Authority) where it will be assessed, the address should be in your application pack. You need to enrol on your course or programme and once that’s done you have to sign the agreement form where your targets in terms of attendance, course work and progress are laid out and send it off you should start receiving your EMA.
Should you have anymore queries go into your local branch of Connexions or check out http://ema.direct.gov.uk/ema.html.
Remember if you are going into your second year of education you need to apply again for the following year.
