What's so good about Education Maintenance Allowance?

The Education Maintenance Allowance, known as EMA, is worth up to £30 a week and is paid straight into your bank account.

Academic year 2012/13

This information refers to applications for academic year 2012/13.

What is EMA?

If you decide to stay on at school or go to a further education college in Northern Ireland, you may be able to get the Education Maintenance Allowance.

EMA is a fortnightly payment of up to £60 for students who are aged 16, 17, 18 or 19 years on 2 July 2011 and 1 July 2012.

It is paid directly to young people from households with an income of £33,950 or less who stay on in education after they reach statutory leaving age which is after the end of their compulsory schooling.

What is it for?

The fortnightly payments are intended to help cover the day-to-day costs that you have to meet when you stay on at school or college like travel costs, books and equipment for your course.

Who is entitled to EMA?

You can get an EMA if:

you are aged 16, 17, 18 or 19 years on or between 2 July 2011 and 1 July 2012
your household income is £33,950 or less
you are full time at school or doing a minimum of 15 guided hours per week at college, studying an eligible course and attending all classes

Young people may be entitled to receive their EMA for a maximum of three years, as long as their household income does not rise above the £33,950 a year threshold). The EMA is available for over a four year period for those young people who may need additional time in further education to achieve their full potential.

What types of course attract EMA?

You have to be enrolled on courses of further education up to and including Level 3, but not including higher education. The main types are:

AS/A2
GNVQs
NVQs
GCSEs
Essential Skills and other Level 1 to 3 qualifications

Any course that attracts a training allowance will not be covered by EMA. This includes FE Awards or DARD Bursaries.

Non means tested Education Maintenance Allowance

If you go into training through one of the components of Training for Success you will automatically qualify for a non means tested Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA) of £40 per week.

If your parent(s)/guardian(s) receive Income Support, means tested Job Seeker's Allowance or Housing Benefit, that benefit will not be affected by the EMA. If you are entitled to one of these benefits in your own right, then that benefit will not be affected either.

Your parent(s)/guardian(s) will also be entitled to receive Child Benefit & Child Tax Credit provided all other conditions for receipt of the benefits are met.

Travel, lodging and childcare allowances may be paid depending on individual circumstances.