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Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA) Application Forms Now Available for Session 2010/11
What is an EMA?
It is a weekly payment of £30 for young people who are planning to continue in post-compulsory education from August 2010.
The Scottish Ministers reserve the right to review the EMA programme at any time. The Scottish Government plan to review the programme in December 2010. Any award made will only be guaranteed up to the end of December 2010.
Who will be eligible for an EMA?
Pupils who were born between 1st March 1991 and 30th September 1994 may be eligible for an award starting in August 2010.
Pupils born between 1st October 1994 and 28th February 1995 may be eligible for an award starting in January 2011.
Pupils who may be eligible from January 2011 can still submit their application now although no award will be made until the outcome of the review is known in December 2010.
How is it paid?
All payments are paid directly into the pupils’ bank account on a fortnightly basis.
How is it calculated?
The total income of the household where the pupil lives determines the award.
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Household Income
(April 09 - April 10)
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EMA Award
(per week)
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Up to £20,351
(for families with a single dependent child in the household)
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£30
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Up to £22,403
(for families with more than one dependent child in the household)
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£30
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Will the EMA affect any benefits received by the pupil or their family?
EMA is paid in addition to other support and benefits provided by the government. No one will lose out on any other money if the pupil is in receipt of an EMA.
It won’t affect the parent’s Child Benefit.
It won’t affect any money the pupil earns from a part-time job.
What does the pupil need to do?
The pupil must attend all their course sessions and sign an EMA Learning Agreement with their school. This agreement details what is expected of them in terms of attendance, coursework and progress.
How does the pupil apply?
Application packs are available from all school offices now or can be downloaded and printed from Fife Direct.
If eligible from August 2010 the application will only be backdated if received by 30th September 2010 otherwise the EMA will start from the date the application is received in the EMA Unit.
Should the scheme continue beyond the review in December 2010 and pupils are eligible from January 2011, the application will only be backdated if received in the EMA Unit by 28th February 2011 otherwise the EMA will start from the date the application is received in the EMA Unit.
Please Note: EMA recipients are required to complete a new application for each year.
No applications will be processed after 31st March 2011.
For more information contact
Yvonne Rattray, Support Officer (EMA)Tel: 01592 583220 Contact Yvonne Rattray online
By Post: Fife Council, Rothesay House, Rothesay Place, Glenrothes, KY7 5PQ