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
Answer: Ideally, you will need a Tax Credit Award Notice (TCAN) form to confirm your household income for the whole of the relevant tax year so your EMA application can be assessed. You can check on page 2 or page 3 of the TCAN to make sure it refers to the right tax year. If your parent or carer doesn't have one or hasn't applied for it yet, they can contact the Inland Revenue on 0845 300 3900 for further details. If you want to apply for EMA and your parents or carers don't yet have a TCAN, they can provide other evidence of the entire household income for the 2003-2004 tax year - for example from a P60 tax form. There are four main categories that need to be assessed: • Income earned as an employee (as shown on their P60) • Gross profits earned from their business, if they are self-employed (or share of the profits if in partnership) • Income from taxable benefits, such as Incapacity Benefit or carer's allowance. • Any other income, for example interest on savings and investments. The EMA application pack has more details on all of this. Call 0808 1016219 for advice.