Education Maintenance Awards

Education Maintenance Awards (EMA) for children 16 to 19 who are receiving education

Children in foster care are eligible for the EMA, which in normal circumstances is means tested into three bands dependent upon the parental income, and the child is awarded £10,£20 or £30 per week.

Children in foster care are not subject to the means testing and are eligible for the full £30 per week which is paid directly to the student. They are subject to the basic conditions below.

• EMAs will be available to students who are undertaking at least 12 hours a week guided learning on further education courses in school sixth forms, sixth form colleges and further education colleges. Eligible courses include those up to and including level 3 - AS/A2, GCSEs, NVQs and other vocational qualifications.
• The £30 weekly entitlement will be available to students in households with an income of up to £19,000; £20 to those in the £19,000 to £23,000 income band; and £10 for household income up to £30,000.*
• Bonus payments of £100 will be paid to those who qualify in January and July of each academic year, with an additional bonus payment in September/October for those who have returned to learning for a second or subsequent year. There will normally be a two-year period of entitlement for eligible students.*

For further info and an application form please ring the EMA Help Line on 0808 1016219 or look at their web site at www.direct.gov.uk/ema