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Children and Young Peoples Services

Services for Adults on the Isle of Wight

Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA)


Service Description: EMA closed to new applicants in England The Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA) scheme closed to new applicants on 1 January 2011. Schools, colleges and training providers have bursary funds to help you if you’re studying or starting a course and face financial hardship. For advice speak to student support services or your tutor. However for young people currently receiving EMA You applied in 2009/10 If you first applied successfully for EMA in 2009/10 you’ll continue to receive the same level of weekly payments while you study in 2011/12. You applied in 2010/11 If you first applied successfully for the maximum EMA payment of £30 a week in 2010/11, you’ll receive £20 a week while you study in 2011/12. You’re in care, a care leaver, or receive an allowance If you’re in care, a care leaver, on income support or receiving both Employment Support Allowance and Disability Living Allowance, your weekly EMA payments will be replaced with a bursary of £1,200 a year from September 2011. You’ll receive that bursary directly from your school, college or training provider. Other students receiving EMA If you get EMA at the moment but are not in one of these groups, you can still apply for a bursary through your school, college or training provider.

Also known as:- 16 - 19 Bursary, EMA, Sixth Form Access Funds

Your FAQ

Question: What happens if my household income drops this year - will my Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA) be re-assessed?

Answer: There are some family circumstances which could affect a student's eligibility and entitlement to an EMA. This means their EMA might be re-assessed for that year. These are:
• The death of the student's parent(s) or carer(s)
• If the student becomes estranged from their parent(s) or carer(s), and is then in receipt of
Income Support
• The student themselves becomes a parent and has care of their child.
If you've applied for EMA and you're affected by any of the above, call the telephone the student help line on 0808 1016219. The Application and Payment Body (APB) will then initiate the re-assessment procedure. Parents, carers or Connexions PAs can act on behalf of students if necessary.


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