Education Maintenance Allowance - 2010/2011

The Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA) became available nationally from August 2004 to eligible young people staying on in fifth and sixth year at secondary school.

For the 2010/2011 school session a student must be born between 1st March 1991 and 28 February 1995 to be eligible for Education Maintenance Allowance from this authority.  Students born between 01 March 1991 and 30 September 1994 (summer intake) can start payment from August 2010.  Students born between 01 October 1994 and 28 February 1995 (winter intake) may start payment from January 2011.  Application forms will be available from your school when you return after the summer holidays. 

The Scottish Government has recently announced two major changes to the EMA programme for the academic year 2010/2011.  The first is that, bonus payments will no longer be part of the programme.  The second is that, the Scottish Government will be reviewing the EMA programme in December 2010.  Any awards issued to young people for the academic year 2010/2011 are therefore only guaranteed until December 2010.

EMA is an allowance of up to £30 per week, depending on household income.   Household income is assessed in the same way as for Tax Credits provided by HM Revenue & Customs.   Students estranged from parents or in care of the authority will be paid the maximum amount.   The weekly allowances payable are:

Students previously in receipt of EMA in the 2008/2009 and 2009/2010 school session

Students who have previously received EMA in both the 2008/2009 and 2009/2010 school session will be eligible if household income is:-

£22,403 or less                        - £30 award will be payable.

Between £22,404 and £27,465  - £20 award will be payable.

Between £27,466 and £33,156  - £10 award will be payable

Please note that this only applies to students who have previously received EMA in the 2008/2009 and 2009/2010 school session.  If applying for EMA for the first time, please see the information below.

New applicants

Students applying for EMA for the first time will be eligible if household income is:-

a) Less than £20,351 where there is one dependent child in the household.

or

b) Less than £22,403 where there is more than one dependent child in the household.

The term dependent child means 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 further or higher education.