Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA)
If you want to stay on at school after your school leaving date (there are two school leaving dates in a year - your earliest leaving date depends on when you turn 16), you may be eligible for an Education Maintenance Allowance. EMAs provide financial support to young people from low income households and can be worth up to £30 a week during term time.
The following table shows what you might be entitled to, depending on your household income.
2009/10
Table 1 - Current Applicants (Continuing from 2008-09)
Income Threshold | Weekly payment |
Zero - £22,403 £22,404 - £27,465 £27,466 - £33,156 | £30 £10 £20 |
Table 2 -New applicants (applying and qualifying for the first time in 2009-10)
Income Theshold | Weekly Payment |
Zero - £20,351 (for applicants from households with one child in full-time education) Zero - £22,403 (for applicants from households with more than one child in full-time education) | £30 £30 |
* Dependent children are all those up to the age of 16 and those over the age of 16 and up to the age of 25 if they are in full-time education and training."
You could also be eligible for two bonuses of £150 if you stay on your course and make good progress. Application forms are available from your school, college or local authority.
Further information on EMA age and income eligibility is available on www.emascotland.com