West Lothian Council delivers

Education Maintenance Allowance - Academic Year 2011/2012

 

The Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA) became available nationally from August 2004 to eligible young people staying on beyond the school leaving age at secondary school.

In the current 2011/2012 academic year a student must be born between 1st March 1992 and 29 February 1996 to be eligible for Education Maintenance Allowance from this authority.  Students born between 01 March 1992 and 30 September 1995 (summer intake) can start payment from August 2011.  Students born between 01 October 1995 and 29 February 1996 (winter intake) may start payment from January 2012.  Application forms will be available from your school from 04 May 2011 onwards.

For those born between 01 March 1992 and 30 September 1995, the form must arrive at the Civic Centre by 30 September 2011.

For those born between 01 October 1995 and 29 February 1996, the form must arrive at the Civic Centre by 28 February 2012.

Any application form that does not arrive at the Civic Centre by these deadlines can only be paid from when the application is received.  The closing date for application forms for the current 2011/2012 academic year is 30 March 2012, no application will be accepted after this date.

EMA is an allowance of £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 thresholds are as follows:

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.

updated: 06/01/12