The education maintenance allowance (EMA) is a payment of up to £30 a week (payments are made fortnightly in Northern Ireland and Wales) paid directly to young people who stay on in further education from age 16 to 19. The scheme is available in England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales.
You may also receive additional payments if you remain on the course and make good progress with your learning.
Entitlement to EMA depends on your parents income and where you study. It does not affect the benefits of other people in the household.
The money is paid into your bank account. If you don't have an account you will need to open one.
In England to get an EMA application form, you can either:
Once you’ve completed the form, your parent or carer will also need to send evidence of the household income for the relevant tax year. This might be their Tax Credit Award Notice (TC602), or P60.
In Northern Ireland you can get a form from your school, college or local Jobs & Benefits office /JobCentre. If you are an existing EMA student then a renewal application form will have been sent to your home address. If you do not receive your renewal application form please contact the EMA Customer Services Team on 0845 601 7646 for advice.
In Scotland you must ask your school, college or Local Education Authority for an application form.
In Wales you must ask your school or college for an application form.
In England you can get up to £30 a week if you are eligible for an adult learning grant.
You must be studying for the first time on a full time course with at least 12 hours of class time which is either:
Payments are based on an assessment of your income (or your joint income if you live with a partner who's in paid employment) not your parents, even if you still live at home.
The assembly learning grant is to encourage people aged 19 or over and living in Wales to continue with their education.
It is a payment of up to £1,500 if you are studying full time and up to £750 if you are part time. It is dependent on your household income.
If you are age 16 or over ILA Scotland pays up to £200 a year towards the cost of "learning something new". ILA Scotland is a Scottish Government scheme for people with an income of £18,000 a year or less or who are on benefits.
For more information call the ILA Scotland helpline free on 0808 100 1090.
You can find more information on the following websites
The Scottish Executive website also produces a guide, Helping you meet the costs of learning, at www.scotland.gov.uk.
www.disabilityalliance.org - April 2009
