EMA (Education Maintenance Allowance)

[Tristan]

Still not fair.
Your saying a child who's parent isnt giving them money deserves money that a child who's parent has the money and wont give them it.
Why, it's basically the same thing.

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The parents of those who claim EMA are much less able to support their children than those parents of children who can't claim it.
It's not about giving money to children as if it's pocket money for gods sake, it's about being able to provide with essentials through their child's education and help support them.

[9y]

I think there should be no option to NOT receive EMA at all, Even if its just an extra £5 a week, Or something to cover your food costs while at college. Its something that is quite annoying because why should they get it and I shouldn't, its not my fault my parents earn more, its not their parents don't. It should be based on the person only, not as well as the parents. The attendance, The punctuality, the effort put into the course. I'm not saying just reward the good people, but it doesn't take a time machine to get to college on time.

[Coding]

I think I can claim EMA, not sure how much £10-£30 though I still need to submit my form. I think they system is flawed and unfair towards those who make a bit more money. Yeah they may earn 35k plus a year but who's to say they give their children anything. I know for a fact I wouldn't receive £30 a week off my parents, my friends dont either.

it's not about giving them £30, the money is to support them for food, bus pass's and essentials for college etc and obviously some will be spent on clothes and other luxury's, but people who earn over the certain amount obviously can buy the child their own bus pass, dinner money for food etc and if they want clothes buy them it. it's not about giving them £30. it's about them having stuff they want when they can because they have the money to, people who don't earn that much money obviously cant do this and will struggle to spend £15-20 a week on a bus pass and £10-15 on dinners etc aswell as taking care of the home, food in the home etc.

[9y]

My parents refuse to give me money for food at college, Petrol money for my car (Or a bus pass when i didnt drive)

I could very easily go to College and spend £10 a day on food/petrol. I have to earn for myself, Why don't I deserve that money just because my parents earn more even though they are not helping me with my day to day life?

[Coding]

My parents refuse to give me money for food at college, Petrol money for my car (Or a bus pass when i didnt drive)

I could very easily go to College and spend £10 a day on food/petrol. I have to earn for myself, Why don't I deserve that money just because my parents earn more even though they are not helping me with my day to day life?

then thats where the system becomes unfair, but most people do get help from parents

[9y]

Yeah, That's why I think it should be based on the person and not the parents. But then again, The person could lie. So all in all, its still a mess.

+rep for the good points made. Thanks

[GommeInc]

I stick by what I said about the EMA should be scrapped, and a new body should be made (Education Maintenance Authority?) which gives out frer bus passes to children and teenagers within an average income range, with background checks, and monetary assistance if things that cost such as resits are required. Equipment could probably be asked for. That way, children and teenagers actually get maintenance for their education, don't spend it on stupid things, and the new authority doesn't waste stupid amounts of unnecessarily spent cash on people.

If you need money to maintain your life (not your education), get a job or benefits, and not something that is labelled Education Maintenance, which is there to maintain your education. Using it for food is not for educational use. If you survived pre-school, you can survive secondary and college with your parents feeding you. Simple.

[Coding]

I stick by what I said about the EMA should be scrapped, and a new body should be made (Education Maintenance Authority?) which gives out frer bus passes to children and teenagers within an average income range, with background checks, and monetary assistance if things that cost such as resits are required. Equipment could probably be asked for. That way, children and teenagers actually get maintenance for their education, don't spend it on stupid things, and the new authority doesn't waste stupid amounts of unnecessarily spent cash on people.

If you need money to maintain your life (not your education), get a job or benefits, and not something that is labelled Education Maintenance, which is there to maintain your education. Using it for food is not for educational use. If you survived pre-school, you can survive secondary and college with your parents feeding you. Simple.

just to drop in with a totally unhelpful post but ema is benefits tehe but yeah i do agree, bus passes and stuff would be a lot fairer to everyone but it'll just be too much hassle

[PaulMacC]

EMA doesn't take into account the amount of children in a family. Even if my parents are earning 30k+ a year I might have 4-5 sisters/brothers.
Also most of the people around my area receiving EMA spend it on alcohol and cigarettes.

[GommeInc]

just to drop in with a totally unhelpful post but ema is benefits tehe but yeah i do agree, bus passes and stuff would be a lot fairer to everyone but it'll just be too much hassle

Not proper benefits If you ask around I think there's a type of benefits a family can get to assist with life in general.

EDIT: Is it child benefit?

EMA doesn't take into account the amount of children in a family. Even if my parents are earning 30k+ a year I might have 4-5 sisters/brothers.
Also most of the people around my area receiving EMA spend it on alcohol and cigarettes.

That's another good point. The EMA doesn't take in how many children are in the family alledgible for the EMA. The EMA can't turn around to the families and say "stop having sex and earning £31,000" because it goes against so many rights.

EDIT: Apparently part-time jobs aren't included :S That's a huge loophole!